Saturday 13 August 2016 23:40, UK
West Ham defender Angelo Ogbonna calls new Chelsea boss Antonio Conte ‘the tailor’ and believes he is cut from the same cloth as Slaven Bilic.
The Italian takes charge of his first match as Chelsea manager when they face Bilic's West Ham at Stamford Bridge in Monday Night Football, live on Sky Sports.
Conte coached Hammers defender Ogbonna at Juventus and with the Italy national team, working with him as recently as Euro 2016.
Ogbonna thinks Conte will help Chelsea return to form after they finished 10th in the Premier League 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."
Conte is known for the passion he expresses 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.
"He (Conte) is similar to Slaven. Slaven has a good humour and good passion and doesn't like to lose.
"When he loses he is so angry. I think he is similar, they look for the human being first and after that the player, that is how you can compare."
Watch Chelsea v West Ham on Monday Night Football. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 1 HD at 7pm.
