For Juventus fans, the return of Conte is certainly very much awaited moment. Conte who once defended the club nicknamed “The Old Lady”, even had time to gush him as head coach for three seasons, now comes back as a different figure.
On Conte’s chest, now no longer was the logo of the club that had been desperately defended before. His screams are no longer intended to burn Juventus players anymore. Now he is present on the opposite side as the opponent, along with the big ambitions of the club which has always been a bitter enemy of Juventus, namely Inter Milan.
The reunion between Conte and the Juventini was actually held last week, but the situation in Italy which was hit by the outbreak of the Corona virus, made this sacred moment had to be postponed for a week. In Italy alone, this virus outbreak is already very worrying. Italy is even listed as the fourth highest country after China, South Korea and Iran in spreading the Corona outbreak.
But as a big match, the situation is as important as whatever is currently covering the country of Pizza today, it seems to have absolutely no effect on the tension of the match Juventus against Inter Milan which remains high. Conte himself came to the headquarters of the former club he defended was not without ambition at all. On the contrary, Conte seemed to want to prove to everyone, that he and his foster children could now do anything, including devastating again the club he once had patiently built as a championship team.
There was a very strong scent of hatred, smelled behind Conte’s return to Juventus Stadium. Of course this is not just a matter of Conte who is now crossing as Inter Milan coach. But long before Conte’s professional decision took place, the Juventini certainly still difficult to forget how painful Conte’s statement that said, “You can not eat in restaurants 100 Euros, only with 10 Euros.”
The cynical statement made by Conte to the media at the time, certainly did not only irritate Juve officials, but also hurt the feelings of the foster children. Conte is indeed typical of people who often express frustration, by searching for scapegoats, rather than correcting their own ways to pursue personal ambition. Not only at Juve, when gushing Chelsea too, he often blamed many parties when his team lost points, rather than evaluating his tactics that seemed rigid.
To compare Juve’s financial condition with someone who only has 10 Euros, but wanting to dine at 100 Euros restaurants is indeed legitimate, but this is certainly not very ethical, because Conte is still a vital element in the body of Juventus itself. Then instead of rectifying, let alone apologizing for his statement, Conte actually decided to resign from his position as coach, even though Juve was going to concentrate on preparing, welcoming the new season.
The departure of Conte at that time was mostly interpreted as the decision of a child, who went crying when his desires could not be fulfilled. Conte could have argued, that his squad at the time, would not be qualified enough to compete with other big clubs in Europe. But the reality actually says differently, because after the death of Conte, Juventus actually managed to talk a lot in the Champions League with Max Allegri, with a more or less the same squad.
It is undeniable, Conte is a figure who is very meritorious in re-lifting the big name of Juventus, after a long stumbling after the Calciopoli scandal in 2006. But don’t forget, Conte was also the one behind the “kicking” of the club legend, Alessandro Del Piero, because he did not want a figure greater than his own name. So his return this time to Juventus Stadium, is no longer a matter of reunions, let alone the memories of reminiscing reminiscing about good times.
Conte might be able to breathe a little relieved, because the authorities of the Italian League stated, that the match of Juventus versus Inter Milan this time will be held without spectators. Because he was aware that his return, so awaited by the Juventini this time, was not from the seeds of longing he had left, but from the embers of vengeance, which he had sown with his own two hands.
But despite playing without the support of the Juventini, Conte seems to understand, the Juventus he wants to face now, is no longer the Juventus he has made fun of with the analogy of 10 Euros. Juventus are now incarnated as someone who can dine in any fancy restaurant, no longer limited to the nominal in Conte’s previous analogy. An analogy which may at this time be a regret, is also the second biggest disgrace in Conte’s life, after baldness.
ASL
