In a recent interview, Napoli boss Conte fondly recalled his defensive combination during his Juventus coaching days - the BBC center back combination (Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini) - and spoke highly of the three players.
I want to give each of you three a big hug," Conte said. In the world of soccer, we usually focus more on the performance of the attacking end and seldom discuss the contribution of the defensive end in depth. But the BBC center-back combination is undoubtedly an example for all."
He went on to reminisce about when he first arrived at Juventus: "When I came to Juventus, I originally had completely different tactical ideas. Because when I coached at Bari and Siena, I won titles with a 4-2-4 formation. So I wanted to replicate that success at Juventus as well."
However, Conte soon realized that Juventus' backline had unique strengths and potential: "At Juventus, I was fortunate to have two outstanding central defenders in Barzagli and Chiellini. And Bonucci, in my initial thoughts, was put on the bench."
But Conte quickly adjusted his tactical thinking: "I'm glad that I was able to quickly adapt to the characteristics of the players and realized the strength of Bonucci. So I changed the tactical set-up, but always kept the same game philosophy. I'm glad that I didn't sacrifice Bonucci's abilities by sticking to my ideas."
Conte was full of praise for the understanding and strength of the BBC center-back combination: "Yes, Barzali, Bonucci and Chiellini, the three of them complement each other in every aspect. They not only have excellent skills, but also have the mental quality of perseverance. Together they have created a historic trio that has become the backbone of Juventus' defense."
