Football
Liam Twomey, Chelsea correspondent 7y

Antonio Conte: Nutritional changes meant to improve health and fitness

LONDON -- Antonio Conte says the nutritional changes he has introduced at Chelsea this season are in the best interests of his players' health, as well as their fitness.

Club sources told ESPN FC back in August that Conte had taken pizza, ketchup, brown sauce and fizzy drinks off the menu at Cobham, as well as implementing a gruelling preseason regime of double training sessions intended to boost the conditioning of his new squad.

The new head coach's changes appear to have yielded immediate results on the pitch. Chelsea have finished the majority of their first nine Premier League matches strongly this season, scoring six goals after the 75th minute -- two more than any other team in the top flight.

Conte says his regime is informed by his experiences as a player, and insists there will be wider benefits for his players than improved form and fitness.

"Before the preseason we explained that we wanted only the right balance when eating, with carbohydrate, protein and fat," Conte explained. "Not too prevent or ban something, only to explain the right balance between these things.

"At the end of my career I started to eat very well, and I felt the benefit of this. For this reason when I started my new career as a coach, I wanted to bring this idea to my players. I think it's a good solution because you don't ban anything -- you just want the right balance to eat carbohydrate, protein and fat.

"It's important because it can also prevent injuries. You recover very quickly, you're more fresh in the mental aspect. I think this because I tried it myself."

Conte says he still practises what he preaches when it comes to nutrition, as well as maintaining his own fitness with a programme of regular exercise at Cobham.

"I pay great attention to my food," he added. "I prefer always healthy food. I also run sometimes when I have time to do fitness -- for 30, 40 minutes. I change the rhythm of my run, but not [go] too strong, also because I think that in my career I ran a lot!

"In the training ground we have four pitches and I run around them. Sometimes I try to involve my staff!

"I prefer to avoid carbohydrates, and to eat protein and vegetables. But when I stay with my family, my wife and daughter, it's spaghetti. I like pasta. I try to avoid it because it's a lot of carbohydrates ... Nutella is not good."

Chelsea have almost a clean bill of health as they prepare to take on Southampton at St Mary's on Sunday, with Cesc Fabregas (thigh) and Kurt Zouma (knee) the only senior absentees.

Conte is optimistic that Fabregas will be available for selection again next week, while Zouma will continue his rehabilitation with Chelsea's development squad.

Asked when he expected to have Fabregas back, Conte said: "Very quickly, because today for example Fabregas stayed with us in a part of the training session when we tried offensive movements. I think in the next week he's ready."

On Zouma, he added: "Zouma played a game with the Chelsea U23s and the physical answer was good. Now we prefer him to play another game on Monday, and then if it's all ok he'll come back with us. I'm very happy because I can have another good central defender, young with big potential."

^ Back to Top ^