Conte seeking Juventus spirit

Antonio Conte has called on his Juventus players to rediscover the winning mentality of the most successful club in Italian history.

Juve boast 27 Serie A titles – nine more than nearest rivals Inter Milan and AC Milan, who have 18 apiece.

But the Turin giants have been without a league championship success since their demotion to Serie B in the aftermath of the Calciopoli scandal of 2006, and finished seventh in the 2010/11 campaign.

Conte, who succeeded Luigi Delneri as head coach in May, wants his new charges to display the same commitment that saw him win five Serie A titles and the Champions League during his time as a Juventus player.

“Alongside all the technical and tactical work, the most important thing we are working on at the moment is trying to get the ‘Juventus spirit’ back. That’s essential. The rest will come with time,” Conte said.

“It takes a great desire to fight, to finish the games with the shirt drenched in sweat, showing love for the jersey.”

“We need to know we are Juventus and Juventus means victories.”

“That’s the essential aspect we are working hard on.”

“I found a more than receptive group, because more than anyone else, the guys are really eager to put these two last seasons behind them.”

Conte was appointed Juve boss after successfully guiding Siena to promotion from Serie B to the top flight last season.

The 41-year-old stopped short of guaranteeing trophies in his first campaign in charge, but promised the team would do everything possible to compete for major honours.

“When I signed a contract with Juventus, I didn’t do it for minimum objectives,” he said.

“It’s not the way I do things and not the way I am, as my past can show.”

“I want to win. Saying that, I cannot say if we will make it, I cannot say it today … but we’ll definitely make anything we can to try and be the best we can till the end of the season.”