Antonio Conte Talks the Right Language as He Begins to Tailor Chelsea's Future

STAMFORD BRIDGE, London — Now it gets real for Antonio Conte.

The new Chelsea boss took his first training sessions in the week preceding his first press conference on Thursday. He has his first match in charge against Rapid Vienna on Saturday, when we're anticipating him taking the Blues in a new direction.

Conte spoke eloquently to the gathered media at Stamford Bridge. His English wasn't perfect, but for a man who has never experienced football outside of his native Italy as a player or a coach until now, it was better than anyone could have expected.

Importantly, without yet being fluent, there was no doubt as to what we can expect from Conte at Chelsea. He immediately got his message across to the media about what he expects from his players. He spoke of passion, a desire to restore the club's position in the Premier League and how he would achieve that with nothing less than hard work and commitment.

"In the last two days, I saw the players with the right attitude, right behaviour and with a great will to fight for the shirt and to go back very soon to compete to win the title," Conte explained. "After these two days, I’m very glad to see these things, and I think it’s very important."

It may have been praise for how his players have conducted themselves early in pre-season, but it was also a warning of what he is demanding from them in the long term. We all saw the passion that oozed from Conte on the sidelines during Italy's run to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, and through his broken English, his choice of words was clever. That's the standard they all have to meet.

He was talking the language of supporters, only it wasn't for their benefit. When he spoke of the shirt, the Chelsea badge and how he admires commitment, it was a reminder that it must remain.

After all, Conte is in this position because those qualities were never there enough for Chelsea last season. Had they been, Jose Mourinho would still manager; the former Juventus boss would have left his post with Italy this summer looking for his next challenge in management, but not in west London.

Indeed, mention of Mourinho was always going to be inevitable. Guus Hiddink bridged the gap between their respective reigns, but the Portuguese is very much Conte's predecessor.

It's Mourinho's squad Conte has inherited and, equally, Mourinho's problems.

At one stage, Conte was asked how he would name himself in light of Mourinho's "Special One" reference when he was first unveiled as Chelsea boss in 2004. His response outlined the difference in the two men.

"I'm not good at this," he replied. "I'd like the media to give me a name later in the season." He added that he hoped it would be a nice one.

Where Mourinho was only too keen to talk himself and his achievements up—indeed, he still is—Conte was more subdued. He isn't as flash as the former boss; the Italian doesn't come with the same ego that can prove a divisive force.

Instead, what Chelsea have is a manager who appears determined to set the club back on course. It was only his second day at the office, yet he already had the aura of a man who understood the culture around Stamford Bridge and the values fans hold dear.

Conte spoke of "winning with my players and, hopefully not too often, losing with my players." His language was one of integration, of Chelsea restoring their authority collectively.

That in itself was a complete contrast to how Mourinho ended his Stamford Bridge tenure last December. Back then, "betrayal" had been the word of choice—a betrayal of his methods, a betrayal from the players to everything he was trying to achieve.

Mourinho had lost control by the time Chelsea were on the receiving end of a defeat to Leicester City. The spark was no longer there, and he couldn't get what he needed from the players. There was too much division, and there was the impression it should've been over a long before the axe eventually fell.

Conte speaks with a more harmonious tone. There was even a poetic quality to what he attempted to  articulate on Thursday. Comparing himself with a tailor, the Italian said he wanted to make Chelsea into the perfect dress. To do that, he said he needs to focus on the finer details.

That means dealing with what Mourinho left behind; it means bringing in some new faces to freshen up his squad; it means working as much with what Chelsea already have and finding a system that makes it all function as it should.

The first step comes in Rapid Vienna's Allianz Stadion on Saturday. Conte won't have a full squad to pick from, as some key players will be missing owing to their extended seasons playing international football. That said, Diego Costa, Willian, Oscar and John Terry have all started pre-season with the new boss and will be in Vienna to give a feeling of strength.

It was the latter who proved a big topic of discussion at Stamford Bridge, and Conte didn't shy away from what Terry still means to Chelsea. "John is the captain of Chelsea when he plays and when he doesn't play," he stated. "Always."

To extend Conte's own metaphor, his sentiments toward Terry outlined an understanding that the captain is the fabric he will use to stitch his Chelsea together. The 35-year-old will be the player with substance, while Costa, Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard are the dazzling sequins to add the spark.

For it to come together properly, the process needs an expert manager with the courage and know-how to make it happen. From his performance on Thursday, Conte is very much that man.

As many Chelsea fans would later comment across social media, we already like the cut of his jib.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes.