Antonio Conte admits he is suffering because of Chelsea’s disappointing campaign – and wants his players to suffer as well.

Conte insists he will only discover the true character of his men through the bad times.

The Blues are struggling to ­defend their Premier League title and were humiliated by Roma in the Champions League.

Chelsea boss Conte held an inquest at the training ground on Thursday and claims he admitted he made mistakes, and wants the players to own up to their failings too.

It was at the suggestion of the players that Conte switched Gary Cahill to the right side of the back three against Roma.

Conte admits he is suffering (
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Getty Images Europe)

Conte said: “It’s right to ­suffer. After a defeat like that, you have to suffer. For sure, I’m a coach who doesn’t like to find excuses or alibis. ­Sometimes I prefer to put all the mistakes in my face.

“The way I suffer after a ­defeat is not for all, because I suffer. I suffer. I don’t like the defeats. I try, also, to transfer my suffering to my players.

“Sometimes I am able to do this. We always have meetings. After a win, after a defeat. Then we try to watch positive situations, negative situations, and then to try together to solve the situation.

“When I make a mistake, I tell you. If you remember after the first game against Roma, it was my fault. That wasn’t the first time, either. A lot of times I’ve put my face in front.

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“This season we are ­struggling a lot because we are facing a lot of important ­problems. And to solve these problems is not simple.

“But I think, in this moment, you can see if you are winners or losers. You understand? This is very important, this moment. When the period is positive, it’s very simple for everyone to play well, to have great confidence.

“But when you’re struggling, it’s important to show our character. To be strong.

“To face the problems in the right way. But I’m used, in my life, to doing this. I struggled a lot in my life, as a player and then as a coach also.

Conte will lock horns with Mourinho again (
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PA)

“My history, my story, tells you this.”

Conte will go head-to-head tomorrow with Jose Mourinho and the pair have already ­become bitter rivals.

Former Chelsea boss ­Mourinho reacted to some fans calling him “Judas” at Stamford Bridge last season by claiming: “Judas is still No.1.” Italian Conte admits he is not friends with other ­managers, but told Mourinho he wants respect – and will offer him the same.

He added: “You have to respect the job of the other coach. I respect the job, but that stops, finish. He’s an opponent, and I’m an opponent for him.

“I think it’s very difficult to speak about ‘friendship’ with other coaches because then they become an opponent.

“You can have respect, ­respect for the job and the work, but to speak about friendship is very difficult.”

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