Antonio Conte delivered a tart verdict on the decision by Angelo Alessio – his assistant of eight years – not to follow him to Inter when the former Juventus, Italy and Chelsea manager moved to Milan in May. “He told me I was crazy not to go but after eight years together the moment had arrived where you want more,” Alessio said.

“You want a new challenge and for that reason I told him of my desire to be my own manager.”

Alessio’s choice means that, rather than contemplate a new campaign from pitchside at San Siro, he will do so from the dugout at Rugby Park, which, for many, will confirm Conte’s judgment. There is a case for regarding Alessio’s task at Kilmarnock as virtually impossible.

Steve Clarke took Kilmarnock to a third-place finish in the Scottish Premiership and into Europe for the first time since 2001, with the highest points total since the Ayrshire club were champions in 1965. How can Alessio exceed that?

“I have to work more at Kilmarnock – not harder, but more,” said the 54-year-old, who began his career as a midfielder with Avellino in Serie A between 1984 and 1987. “It will be the first time my team will play on a plastic pitch but it’s not important to me – the ball is the same.