Davide Zappacosta wants to be Italian success at Chelsea

Is scrapping replays a 'kick in the teeth' for lower-league clubs or a vital step for player welfare? Managers from across English football have their say as war rages over controversial move
Revealed: Roman Abramovich's alleged role in Dutch side Vitesse being given 18-point deduction and RELEGATED from the Eredivisie after investigation into financial irregularities
Arsenal's April curse strikes again! SAMI MOKBEL reveals exactly what needs to change for Mikel Arteta to win major honours
Casemiro opens up on why he nearly CANCELLED his £70m move to Man United from Real Madrid... as the Brazilian star reveals an emotional chat with Carlo Ancelotti almost changed his mind
PHIL FODEN on the very personal reason why he wears No 47, how he deals with the relentless Pep Guardiola... and he finally settles a Man City myth
Can Chelsea pile more misery on Man City and end their double hopes? The Blues are 12/5 to win FA Cup semi-final tie... with Cole Palmer 2/1 to score anytime against his former side
Ratcliffe's revolution continues! Man United confirm appointment of Jason Wilcox as new technical director after agreeing compensation with Southampton and will start new role with immediate effect
Zinedine Zidane 'would prefer to manage Man United over Bayern Munich' and is 'monitoring the situation at Old Trafford'... DESPITE being 'close' to a deal to replace Thomas Tuchel at Bundesliga giants
Geri and Christian Horner 'in talks to film fly-on-the-wall documentary about their personal life' after the Red Bull Racing boss was cleared of wrongdoing amid his 'sexting' scandal
Tired? Give it a rest. If Man City keep talking about feeling jaded then they'll start to believe they are, writes GRAEME SOUNESS
Coventry have been penniless, homeless and at war with their owners but, like the city bombed in 1940, they have risen from the rubble to set up their semi-final date with Man United
Cole Palmer was asking to leave Man City for TWO seasons, reveals Pep Guardiola... as he admits he 'didn't give the Chelsea star the minutes he deserved'
Cesc Fabregas speaks out on Chelsea's penalty fiasco as he warns arguments over who takes spot-kicks can cause 'bad vibes' in the dressing room - and recalls being at the centre of a similar row
New footage shows Xabi Alonso and his Bayer Leverkusen staff reacting to finding out Europa League semi-final opponent, as clip prompts fans to warn German champions about underestimating Roma
Lower-league clubs could BOYCOTT the FA Cup in fury after the Premier League and The FA agreed to scrap replays in the hallowed tournament
England's next wonderkid? Wolves are set to include a 15-YEAR-OLD schoolboy in their squad to face Arsenal amid their injury crisis... and Gary O'Neil hints the young star could START crunch clash
Have Liverpool lost their killer edge at the worst time? Reds have not scored from open play in over SIX HOURS... and their poor recent record is in danger of ruining Jurgen Klopp's farewell tour
Teenage sensation Luke Littler swats aside Arno Merk to set up World Championship final rematch with Luke Humphries in second round of European Darts Grand Prix
Man City 'are already preparing for life after Pep Guardiola and have identified LaLiga boss as a potential successor to the Spaniard when he leaves the Etihad'
Formula One fans claim Taylor Swift had a dig at Fernando Alonso in her new album 'The Tortured Poets Department' after singer's rumored romance with the Spaniard last year
KEOWN TALKS TACTICS: Luton's tunnel vision could be saving grace - as Rob Edwards' Hatters look to seize the initiative in the Premier League relegation battle
Sean Dyche insists he will 'FIGHT' to stay at Everton amidst concerning run of just one win in 15 games as under-pressure Toffees boss reveals project is 'a lot different' to what he expected
Michael Schumacher's incredible watch collection 'is set to be auctioned by his family' with eight of his unique timepieces 'expected to fetch an estimated £5M'
Man United target names the Red Devils as a club he'd love to play for, despite snubbing Erik ten Hag's advances for TWO YEARS... with Premier League rivals also on his list

Davide Zappacosta wants to make his mark after signing for Chelsea from Torino
The Italian wants to be the latest from his country to shine at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea have had a string of successful Italian players and managers at the club
Antonio Conte won the Premier League in his first season after arriving

Published: 08:19 EDT, 3 October 2017 | Updated: 11:00 EDT, 3 October 2017

e-mail

Davide Zappacosta wants to ensure he is the latest Italian to make his mark at Stamford Bridge by leading Chelsea to honours.

The wing back arrived from Torino on transfer deadline day and has settled in well, scoring his first goal against Qarabag in the Champions League in the Blues' 6-0 victory last month.

But he wants to play a part in leading his team to trophies just like the club's string of successful players and managers, including current boss Antonio Conte, have done before him.

Davide Zappacosta wants to be the latest Italian success story at Stamford Bridge

Antonio Conte has been an instant hit as Chelsea's latest Italian manager, winning the league

Claudio Ranieri took over as Chelsea boss in 2012 and went on to win the Champions League

'I've noticed there is this long tradition [of Italian players at Chelsea],' Zappacosta said in Chelsea's matchday programme ahead of Saturday's game with Manchester City.

'I just hope that, like my predecessors from Italy, I can make my mark at Chelsea and win some trophies. That would be a dream come true for me.'

He added: 'I am convinced I am well suited to the style of football in England, probably even more so than Italian football.

Gianluca Vialli won the Cup Winners Cup in 1998 as Chelsea's player/manager

Goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini is one of two Italian's to win Chelsea's player of the year award

CHELSEA'S ITALIAN STALLIONS

Players

Gabriele Ambrosetti

Marco Ambrosio

Marco Amelia

Fabio Borini

Pierluigi Casiraghi

Carlo Cudicini

Sam Dalla Bona

Roberto Di Matteo

Christian Panucci

Luca Percassi

Gianluca Vialli

Davide Zappacosta

Gianfranco Zola

Managers

Gianluca Vialli

Claudio Ranieri

Carlo Ancelotti

Roberto Di Matteo

Antonio Conte

Gianfranco Zola is a Chelsea legend

'There is more space because the intensity is higher and the game is much quicker, so I can look to exploit that.'

The combination of Conte, Roberto Di Matteo, Carlo Ancelotti and Gianluca Vialli have won 11 trophies between them while in charge of the Blues, while Claudio Ranieri proved vital in the early years of the Roman Abromovich era.

On the playing front both Carlo Cudicini and Gianfranco Zola have won Chelsea's player of the year award, while the likes of Fabio Borini, Pierluigi Casiraghi and Sam Dalla Bona have all turned out in Chelsea blue.