Former Chelsea player-manager, Gianluca Vialli has revealed the stark differences between what the football club was like when he first arrived at the club from Juventus.
Speaking to Graham Hunter in his Big Interview series, Vialli admitted he couldn’t believe what he was seeing when he would turn up to training, but would have to make way for University students in the early afternoon.
Vialli reflects on a time that will be unthinkable to some Chelsea fans of a younger generation, with Roman Abramovich’s money transforming the club, including the state of the art training facilities at Cobham.
Well, I was kind of shocked when I first arrived, the training facilities compared to what we had in Italy. The fact we had to train and leave the training ground by 1:00 because at 1:30 we had university students coming in and occupying our facilities. We couldn’t train twice a day, we had two days off a week, which was incredible. Even looking at some of the British players under the shower, and seeing them quite unfit. It was totally different, no need to spend the night before a match in the hotel. With the press, speaking to the press maybe one a month or less. The fans being extremely happy, no matter what as long as you give your very best. Results were important, but effort was more important. It was a shock for me.
When asked about the new Chelsea head coach and Vialli’s former team-mate, Antonio Conte and how he will manage at Stamford Bridge, the Italian said that he believes the pair are the perfect match for the state that the Blues currently find themselves in off the back of a torrid title defence last season.
I think its a perfect match. I honestly think Chelsea is the perfect club for Antonio Conte to try something new, a new experience, in a football world I am sure he will end up loving, absolutely loving. Chelsea has won the title, but this season has been a bad season, as a manager you know this is the right time to come in. Little expectation, lot of work to rebuild the team, he did it with Juventus a few years back. I am sure he will be thrilled to be in the same situation with Chelsea.
Vialli went on to draw comparisons to Conte and former Chelsea managers.
Chelsea need a leader like Antonio. They’ve been very good with the likes of Mourinho and Ancelotti. I think probably Antonio Conte is between, in terms of style and personality. I am sure they will enjoy working together to try and make Chelsea again, the biggest club in the UK.
Conte will get his first taste of competitive football in the Premier League on Monday night as he welcomes West Ham to Stamford Bridge.
