Chelsea vs West Ham: Antonio Conte is not my friend when I enter the pitch, says Angelo Ogbonna

(MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images)
Mark Mann-Bryans14 August 2016

West Ham defender Angelo Ogbonna refers to Antonio Conte as the tailor - and believes the new Chelsea manager is cut from the same cloth as Slaven Bilic.

Conte takes charge of his first match as Chelsea's latest manager when they welcome Bilic's West Ham to Stamford Bridge on Monday night.

He worked with Hammers defender Ogbonna at both Juventus and with the Italy national team as recently as Euro 2016.

And the 28-year-old thinks Conte will do well in England, backing him to turn Chelsea's fortunes around after they finished 10th last season.

"I call him 'tailor' because he arrived at Juventus when they were not playing well and the same with Italy and he can repair them, it is the same with Chelsea," he said.

"I think he will bring passion to the Premier League. He likes to improve his players with physical methods and likes to improve the character.

"When I heard he was being appointed Chelsea manager and had the chance to come into the Premier League, I think it is good for him.

"It is the same with Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho as well. It is good for the Premier League and something is changing. The football will improve."

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While Ogbonna holds Conte in high regard, it will be all business when the pair arrive at Stamford Bridge.

"I will just say hello to Antonio. We are friends but not on the pitch," he said.

"The manager is preparing everything and this is the first match. Every manager wants to do well in the first game and I think it will really be a good game."

Conte is known for the passion he exudes on the touchline and Ogbonna compared him to his West Ham boss Bilic.

"Conte has improved me as a player and all the players he worked with. I have a similar coach as well in Slaven who has the same character and both of them can improve players," he added.

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