Inter Milan coach Antonio Conte. AFP
Inter Milan coach Antonio Conte. AFP
Inter Milan coach Antonio Conte. AFP
Inter Milan coach Antonio Conte. AFP

Antonio Conte the master coach at Inter Milan who has finally toppled Juventus


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Inter Milan, champions of Italy. If you want a title, get Antonio Conte.

The Nerazzurri celebrated their 19th Scudetto last Sunday, Conte finally ending the nine-year reign of Juventus, which he had started in 2012, and getting his revenge on Juve chairman Andrea Agnelli, with whom he exchanged insults in February.

He is, without a doubt, the great architect of their success; he took an Inter that had finished in fourth place in 2018-19, 21 points behind Juventus, to the top of Serie A two years later.

After starting his career as a manager in Arezzo followed by Bari, Atalanta, Siena and Juventus, Conte spent two years with the Italian national team and then Chelsea, where he won a Premier League and FA Cup in two seasons.

In May 2019 he signed with Inter Milan - where he faced resistance among fans - and after losing the Europa League final to Sevilla in his first campaign in August 2020, this year he achieved what until recently was unthinkable in Italy: taking the Scudetto away from Juve's clutches.

About to turn 52 in July, Conte was born in Lecce, where he started playing as a midfielder in 1985, then became one of the most valuable players in his position.

Today he is the highest paid coach in Serie A history, with Inter's Chinese owner Steven Zhanga backing his winning obsession, and putting him at the top of the pay league two years ago.

Conte reportedly earns €12 million ($14.4m) net per year, almost five times as much as the next highest-paid coach in Serie A.

Eleven years after Jose Mourinho's historic treble, Inter won their 19th Scudetto thanks to an enthusiastic coach whose victorious mentality prevailed.

Early elimination from the Champions League prompted speculation he might be sacked but instead it allowed Inter to put all their efforts into Serie A and Conte's has masterminded some brilliant tactics to secure the title.

Particularly influenced by the Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni, Conte built with his trademark 3-5-2 the best defence in the Italian championship. Of course, it was also important to have brought in Romelu Lukaku in 2019 (the €81m fee was a club record) and also Achraf Hakimi for €40m at the beginning of the current campaign.

Inter fans celebrate winning Serie A

A staunch defender of method and discipline, those who do not follow Conte's orders suffer the consequences.

On the field, his rule means that any player who loses possession of the ball has five seconds to recover it before returning to their position.

However, although he requires his players to fight for each ball, he does fine anyone who is sent off. It is no accident that Inter have received fewer yellow cards than any other Serie A team this season. Inter players always play at the limit, but rarely over.

With Conte, the mind is just as important as the body. A graduate of the Italian football federation's coaching school in Coverciano, he believes that a player needs to study as much as he trains so each player receives meticulous written reports on his direct opponents.

'I train your head, then I train your legs'; It is his motto and the results back it up.

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE

Estijaba – 8001717 –  number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre

Emirates airline – 600555555

Etihad Airways – 600555666

Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Switch%20Foods%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Edward%20Hamod%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Plant-based%20meat%20production%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2034%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%246.5%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20round%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Based%20in%20US%20and%20across%20Middle%20East%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: 3.5-litre V6

Power: 272hp at 6,400rpm

Torque: 331Nm from 5,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.7L/100km

On sale: now

Price: Dh149,000

 

North Pole stats

Distance covered: 160km

Temperature: -40°C

Weight of equipment: 45kg

Altitude (metres above sea level): 0

Terrain: Ice rock

South Pole stats

Distance covered: 130km

Temperature: -50°C

Weight of equipment: 50kg

Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300

Terrain: Flat ice
 

RESULTS FOR STAGE 4

Stage 4 Dubai to Hatta, 197 km, Road race.

Overall leader Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)

Stage winners: 1. Caleb Ewan AUS (Lotto - Soudal) 2. Matteo Moschetti ITA (Trek - Segafredo) 3. Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
  • Riders must be 14-years-old or over
  • Wear a protective helmet
  • Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
  • Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
  • Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
  • Do not drive outside designated lanes
ROUTE%20TO%20TITLE
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While you're here
The specs

Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder

Power: 220 and 280 horsepower

Torque: 350 and 360Nm

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT 

On sale: now