Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi admits it’s not easy playing under Antonio Conte but admits the experience is ‘beautiful’.
The 34-year-old, who was linked with a move to Stamford Bridge in the summer, worked with Conte in Italy’s national team for two years between 2014 and 2016.
‘If one day I am to become a coach, I will take a lot from [Antonio Conte] and from Luis Enrique,’ the midfielder told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
‘He illuminated me, and it’s not the first time I say that. It’s not easy to be one of his players, but it’s beautiful.’
De Rossi was part of Italy’s squad for Euro 2016 where Conte’s side reached the quarter-final but were beaten by Germany on penalties.
‘He called me and told me, ‘If you’re 100 percent then you’ll play, otherwise I’m not calling you up,’ and I love people like that, who tell you the truth,’ said De Rossi.
‘Tactically he’s a monster, an animal.
‘It was a great experience at the European Championship.
‘Conte gave back to me the belief that I could still be a certain type of footballer; that I could still train at a feral rhythm, because when you work for him, either you run yourself into the ground and keep up with the pace, or you don’t go anywhere.’
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