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Antonio Conte has revealed Fabio Capello warned him about the perils of English football.

Former England boss Capello told his fellow countryman the lack of a winter break "penalised" the national team and was bad for football.

Chelsea boss Conte benefitted from a winter break while in charge of Italy and admits it will be a very different experience to play football over Christmas but claims he is looking forward to it.

Conte said: "I have this situation in England, and I heard a lot of coaches saying you should stop and have a winter break. Above all with the national team.

(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

"Capello always said the lack of a winter break penalised the national team. It's very difficult to reply to this question. To play in this period, the atmosphere we find in this period is very difficult to find in another period. It's fantastic.

"It's very difficult for me to say if it's positive or negative to play during the Christmas period. But for me, it's my first experience and I'm very happy to have this experience."

(Image: Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty)

Conte says working at Christmas will be a new experience for his family having always had a break when he was in charge of Italy and Juventus.

Conte added: "My wife and my daughter will arrive to celebrate Christmas at my house with my brothers, with my parents and the family. I think that's very good.

"This is the first experience for me and my family of playing football at this time of year. It can be, and I hope it will be, a fantastic experience. It's very strange for us.

(Image: Getty)

"In this period, we're used to going on holiday for a week. Sometimes we went to Lecce, sometimes in Torino, once we went in Dubai. But it's important for me, at Christmas, to stay with my family.

"You have to celebrate Christmas with the family. It's not important where you stay, but it's important to stay together with your family."