Gianluigi Buffon: 'Antonio Conte will be excellent at Chelsea'

Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon has backed his coach Antonio Conte to be a success as Chelsea manager.

The 46-year-old will take charge of the Blues when he draws a close to a two-year spell with Italy after Euro 2016.

Conte showed his tactical nous on Monday when the Azzurri sealed a 2-0 win over Belgium in Lyon.

"Conte is a big coach and I'm convinced he will be an excellent one at Chelsea," The Mirror quotes Buffon as saying. "A Conte team is strong in defence and works constantly, day to day.

"Conte is a coach with an idea that is very simple. For the players he makes it very clear. He wants to play without risk in the defensive line and to exploit the opportunities to score goals when they come.

"This appears easy but he always wants more. So to go where we want we need to do whatever the coach asks of us."

During Conte's management career at club level, the Italian won three Serie A titles back to back during a three-year spell at Juventus.