Chelsea players set for gruelling pre-season training as Antonio Conte arrives today

CHELSEA players will begin the toughest pre-season training of their lives under manager Antonio Conte today.

By Jamie Anderson        

BOSS: Chelsea manager Antonio Conte

The Italian tactician places a greater emphasis on fitness than his predecessors Jose Mourinho and Guus Hiddink, who focused primarily on technical ability.

Conte, 46, has a boot-camp mentality and will personally see that his players give 100 per cent commitment to every training session, according to The Times.

“Conte has a boot-camp mentality”

He will ask the squad to run more and complete a series of interval training distances to improve their stamina and speed endurance at their state-of-the-art facility in Cobham.

It's only after these drills have been completed that Conte will actually use a ball because he believes the players will benefit from practicing their skills while fatigued.

But it doesn't stop there.

 

The former Juventus manager also values strategy and will run extra tactical sessions.

The players will be expected to attend two training sessions everyday until their opening Premier League fixture against West Ham.