Antonio Conte has encouraged Inter Milan players to expend as little energy as possible during sexual intercourse with partners in order to boost performance on the pitch.

The Italian, who left Chelsea in 2018, took over as Inter boss over the summer and has enjoyed a positive start to life at San Siro.

Following 12 Serie A games, Inter are in second place and just one point behind champions Juventus.

Speaking in an interview with L'Equipe, Conte said: "Competition for me is battle. It is 'your death, my life'. I am very focused on the fact that in the end there should only be one left standing and I do everything to make it my team.

"This is my way of being and it will lead me to interrupt my career very early because I live my work too much. And I often ask if it is right to spend so much time without my family.

"During the season, sex must not last too long, we must do as little effort as possible. So stay under the partner. And preferably, with their wives, because if with others, well, that needs extra action."

Conte was recently placed under police protection after receiving a bullet in the post earlier this month.