Conte - worse thoughts than quitting

(ANSA) - Turin, March 30 - Italy coach Antonio Conte said Monday that he had worse thoughts than resigning after key attacking midfielder Claudio Marchisio was injured last week in training.
    "You ask me if, for a moment, I thought to resign last Friday? I had so many other thoughts, worse (than resignation)," Conte said on the eve of an Italy-England friendly. Marchisio was said to have snapped an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee Friday which would have required reconstructive surgery.
    However, later reports said the injury was less severe.
    Still, the initial reports triggered a major controversy with some fans of Juventus, Marchisio's team where Conte formerly coached, enraged at the loss of such a key player.
    John Elkann, chairman of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which has roots in Turin, reportedly criticized Conte for allegedly working the players too hard in training.
    BBC reported on its website that Conte even received death threats over the Marchisio injury, quoting the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).
    Juventus has since said the 29-year-old Marchisio did not tear his ligament.