Head, heart, legs

"Testa, Cuore e Gambe" is the title of Antonio Conte's book that means head, heart and legs. Apparently that's the secret behind the Chelsea manager's success. It was also his mantra at Juventus where he won three consecutive Serie A titles between 2012-2014. Basically the Italian believes in players that play with intelligence (head), zeal (heart) and motion (legs).

Based on that simple formulae he has assembled a team that has been quite a revelation in this season's English Premier League. No wonder that at the writing of this, Chelsea is sitting proudly at the top of the table with 81 points while my beloved Arsenal that has for over 20 years finished in the top four, is in sixth position, a whopping 21 points behind Chelsea with only four games remaining. 

It's been an exciting cruise for Conte's team. While pundits have watched every match with bated breath; waiting for slip ups that would see Chelsea's main rival Tottenham catch up, the blues have continued to grow stronger because they play as a unit; each one of them giving 100 percent. Those who thought talent and pedigree alone was enough such as Oscar were sold to China and Conte gave the chance to 'underdogs' like Victor Moses who grasped his mantra and played to its tune.  

With just 245 days remaining to the end of the year, I couldn't help thinking that maybe Conte's formulae is all we need to fulfill our resolutions and succeed wholesomely. For most people using their heads is not a problem. They come up with fantastic plans and even intelligent ways of executing them but their hearts are tested when they meet challenges. That's when those without the zeal, hunger and fire of champions are exposed. They blow cold at the first sign of resistance forgetting that there's no warrior, no winner without the attributes of persistence and perseverance. 

So while Conte's team live up to his head, heart and legs style, let's also apply it in the game of life for indeed it's in exerting ourselves intelligently, zealously and forwardly in all our endeavours that we shall achieve exponentially.