New Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has arrived at Stamford Bridge to find a squad of fragile egos looking for inspiration and leadership following the breakdown of their relationship with former manager Jose Mourinho.
With that in mind, the Italian has been working as much on restoring his players’ confidence as implementing his playing philosophy.
His first taste of the Premier League will introduce a new era at Stamford Bridge on Monday as Chelsea host West Ham United.
“Before the Italy job many people who know me didn’t trust I could transfer the right spirit to the national team,” said Conte, who should give debuts to new signings N’Golo Kante and Michy Batshuayi against West Ham.
“I showed it can happen. A family spirit in the team is important. Every player must be ready to help his teammate.
“It’s not easy after only 30 days but I found the players with the right attitude. I hope we can build on this.”
More Premier League
• Diego Costa: Has 'great passion' says Antonio Conte
• Talking points: Thomas Woods on how Spurs' Erik Lamela looks a star
Conte is eagerly awaiting his introduction to the English game after spells as Juventus and Italy manager, but the renowned perfectionist also knows he is in for a long night of soul searching if Chelsea come unstuck against their London rivals.
Revealing he rarely sleeps more than a few hours before a match as he finds himself mulling over tactical decisions, Conte says the frustration of defeat lingers so long that he will hardly sleep following a loss.
“Usually I don’t sleep a lot before the games, two, three, four hours, then when I wake up I start to think about the game. By the morning I have the tactical ideas,” Conte said.
“After the game when I win I sleep easily, when I don’t win it’s very difficult for me to sleep.
“At night I think why we lost, sometimes I watched the game again, because I want to find a reply.
“Where is the situation that is difficult, who are the players who were difficult, was our tactical plan good or not good.”
Although Conte enjoyed a trophy-laden reign with Juventus, he rarely feels fully satisfied and it was no different with Italy, whose Euro 2016 defeats against the Republic of Ireland and Germany provoked especially long nights of tossing and turning under the sheets.
“Lately I was lucky because I often win, with the national team and Juventus. But when it happened that I lost a game I need to think quickly why,” he said.
“In the Euros when we lost to Ireland, in the middle of the night I wanted to watch the match again to understand the reason.
“I have a great wife, a great daughter, they understand me. They know my habit is to work a lot.
“When you win a title you reach a great connection with your soul. You understand your sacrifice, the many nights that you don’t sleep.”
It is that passion that made Conte such an appealing choice for Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich as he looked to repair the fractured dressing room that doomed his club to a dismal 10th-place finish last season.
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport