Antonio Conte grateful to have his family with him in second season at Chelsea

Antonio Conte has revelaed his family have joined him in feeling the drama of Chelsea's fortunes this season following their move to England.

Conte's wife Elisabetta and daughter Vittoria are now living near the club's training ground in Cobham after leaving Italy during the summer and the Blues manager has begun driving in the UK for the first time in order to take them to restaurants.

"For me to have my family with me is very important. I'm very happy they are with me," said Conte ahead of Saturday's Premier League visit to Crystal Palace.

"Last season, honestly, I suffered a lot because when you arrive in a new country and you are alone and know that your family don't stay here it is not simple.

"My work is the same if they're here or not, but for my family it's worse because they were very far and instead now we are together and they live the same feeling if we win, we draw or we lose.

"Last season I prefer to stay at home or take a taxi to go to a restaurant, now I take the car and sometimes we go to London or Kingston or to discover new restaurants."

Conte admits "football is a drug" when asked if he would consider emulating Roy Hodgson by remaining in management at the age of 70.

"Our job is difficult because you have a lot of pressure every season and you think maybe I need a bit of rest, but when you have the rest after one month you want to work," he said.

"Football is a drug and when there's a lot of pressure you think maybe a rest could be good for me, but when you have the rest you're feeling bad because you lack something."