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Tag: Antonio Conte

  • I have enjoyed my time in England, Conte thanks Chelsea after sacking

    Antonio Conte has released a statement thanking Chelsea’s staff for their “hard work and support” during his time at the club.

    Conte was sacked as Chelsea head coach on Friday, with former Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri named as his successor a day later following a protracted on-off move to the Premier League.

    Conte led Chelsea to the Premier League title during his first year in charge but they were unable to defend their crown last season, finishing fifth in the table before beating Manchester United in the FA Cup final.

    “I would like to thank all of my friends at Chelsea Football Club for their hard work and support over the past two seasons which enabled us to win the Premier League and FA Cup together,” Conte said in a statement issued through the League Managers Association (LMA).

    “To the players, whose talent and commitment was so important to our successes, I thank them for everything. It has been a pleasure working with them every day.

    “To my staff, who always worked so hard, I must say thank you and well done for their professionalism and dedication throughout.

    “I have enjoyed my time in England and London so much and I want to thank the Chelsea fans who have been amazing to me and my family.

    Chelsea have appointed former Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri as their new head coach on a three-year deal.

    “It was fantastic for me to be able to share my emotions, passion and enthusiasm throughout two unforgettable seasons with these amazing Chelsea supporters, who will always stay in my heart.

    “I hope Chelsea will continue to be successful and I wish everyone well for next season.

    “I have made many memories during my time with Chelsea, which I will take with me into my next challenge.”

    Conte showed his tactical nous during his debut season in the Premier League as his Chelsea side became the first to win the title with a 3-4-3 formation, winning a then-record 30 of their 38 matches and going on a 13-match winning run along the way.

    LMA Chief Executive Richard Bevan said: “Antonio made an immediate impact when he arrived in the Premier League two years ago.

    “His energy and enthusiasm for football has been infectious and it has been a privilege to have one of the best coaches in the world working in the Premier League to raise the standard of the league and his players at Chelsea.

    “His record as a manager speaks for itself, with a record-breaking Premier League season and FA Cup title to look back on with pride.

    “Antonio is hugely respected by his peers within the English game, who voted him as LMA Manager of the Year in 2017.

    “We have no doubt that Antonio will go on to achieve many more successes in his career.”

  • BREAKING: Chelsea sack Antonio Conte as manager

    Chelsea have finally sacked Antonio Conte and paved the way for Maurizio Sarri to replace him as the club’s new head coach.

    Owner Roman Abramovich has risked paying Conte his full £9million compensation bill with the Italian ready to take a year out if no big jobs become available.

    Abramovich held off sacking Conte to see if a job became available that would save Chelsea having to pay him off, but the club have been left with little choice but to act – despite the Italian returning to take pre-season training since Monday.

    News broke from Italy that Conte had been sacked and, although Chelsea have refused to comment, Telegraph Sport understands he officially left the club on Thursday.

    Unless a private agreement can be struck or Chelsea and Conte embark on a bitter legal battle, the Blues will have to pay the 48-year-old for the final year of his contract that was only improved on July 18 last year.

    He added the FA Cup to the Premier League title he won in his first year in charge, but there was a feeling Chelsea and Conte could not go on together with neither side prepared to change their philosophies.

    Conte wanted greater control on the transfers and would have also attempted to instigate an overhaul of the playing squad had he stayed on for his final 12 months.

    He would have frozen out David Luiz, Willian and others, while Chelsea feared that Eden Hazard would not sign a new contract if Conte stayed on and were worried by his relationship with key players.

    That ultimately convinced Chelsea that the club could not risk the squad imploding over the next 12 months and work has been going on behind the scenes to secure Conte’s replacement.

    Sarri will now be confirmed as Conte’s successor after Chelsea finally made a breakthrough with Napoli over his release.

    The move from Napoli was held up after the Italian club appointed Carlo Ancelotti as their manager, but refused to let Sarri out of his contract.

    But progress has been made over the past 48 hours and Sarri has agreed a two-year contract with the option of a third if an agreement can be signed off with Napoli. Gianfranco Zola could also return to Chelsea as part of the backroom or technical staff.

    Sarri could be followed by midfielder Jorginho from Napoli, with Chelsea willing to pay £50m, plus £7m in bonuses, for the pair.

    The Blues also hope to sign Aleksandr Golovin and Daniele Rugani. They are also interested in goalkeeper Alisson Becker if Thibaut Courtois decides he wants to leave.

  • Chelsea must be ready to ‘fight’ in FA Cup semi-final – Conte

    Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte says the team must ‘be ready to fight’ in their FA Cup semi-final tie against Southampton on Sunday.

    Conte, whose side beat Burnley 2-1 at Turf Moor in the league on Thursday, said he is not “listening to those who say Chelsea are already in the final”.

    “It won’t be easy,” said Conte, who hinted that he may start with two strikers in the semi.

    “Five days ago we were 2-0 down at Southampton, but I saw a fantastic spirit at Burnley. We must continue this way.”

    Against Burnley, Conte played two strikers – Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud – for the first time since taking over at Chelsea in 2016.

    “In the past it was very difficult for me to try this option with the two strikers,” he said.

    “But they showed a great link and a great combination, and at the same time they worked very hard for the team.

    “Our strikers created a lot of difficulties for the central defenders and we surprised Burnley.

    “To see Giroud and Morata play this way gives me satisfaction. It’s an option, for Sunday or maybe for the future.”

    Spaniard Morata, who missed a one-on-one opportunity with goalkeeper Nick Pope, showed his frustration after being replaced by Eden Hazard 19 minutes from time.

    “Alvaro must be angry,” said Conte. “He had a chance to score and if you score you change the confidence.

    “I thought he was angry he was substituted because of this miss but I am very pleased with him. I thought it was better to put fresh strength on with Hazard.”

    Chelsea lost 2-1 to Arsenal in the FA Cup final last season.

    “A second final in a row would be great for our fans,” said Conte.

    “It’s not my task to judge the season. I have to work and try to transfer my enthusiasm to the team.

    “Sometimes I am good, sometimes I am not so good.”

    BBC

  • Chelsea: Hazard accept to play out of position under Conte

    Chelsea: Hazard accept to play out of position under Conte

    Chelsea play-maker, Eden Hazard admits he has no problem with Chelsea manager Antonio Conte playing him out of his favourite position.

    In recent big games, Conte has opted to use Hazard in a ‘false nine’ role rather than his preferred position on the left wing.

    However, ahead of Chelsea’s crucial Premier League fixture against Tottenham on Sunday, the Belgian insists he is willing to sacrifice his favoured role for the good of the team.

    “I just want to be on the pitch,” Hazard told Sky Sports News.

    “Number 9, 10, I can play left-back if the manager wants, no problem. I just want to be on the pitch and try to give everything like I do every time.

    “I’m happy with Chelsea,” he added. “I am just thinking about the end of the season and the World Cup. I have got two years left on my contract so I am just happy.”

    Hazard is currently on international duty with Belgium and is set to feature in Tuesday’s friendly against Saudi Arabia.

    Belgium have been drawn in Group G at the World Cup with England, Panama and Tunisia and Hazard believes they are equipped to go much further than they did in 2014 when they reached the quarter-finals.

    “Four years ago was the first World Cup for almost all of the players in the national team,” he said. “Now we have the experience four years later so we know what to do to be ready.

    “We have one target which is to go to the final and then we will see what happens.”

  • Chelsea midfielder, Kante fit to play after fainting in training

    Chelsea midfielder, N’Golo Kante is in contention to start against Crystal Palace on Saturday despite fainting at the club’s training ground last week.

    Chelsea coach, Antonio Conte confirmed on Friday that Kante trained normally this week after fainting at Cobham last week shortly after he had taken part in an outdoor training session in the bitterly cold conditions.

    The France international was immediately attended to by club doctors who subsequently carried out a series of tests, including cardiology tests, on the 26-year-old – all of which came back negative.

    However, Kante was not risked against Manchester City last Sunday, but could start when Chelsea host relegation-battlers Palace at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening.

    “N’Golo is fine. He trained the whole week. He’s in good form. He’s fine,” Conte told reporters.

    “Last week if you remember it was very cold and, after the training session, he passed out briefly in the dressing-room,” Conte explained.

    “I think that, for sure, after the situation the doctor brought him to have many controls, many check ups, to understand the physical condition. But it was all clear.

    “I think that on Sunday he was well but, at the same time, it was right not to take a risk. To give him the opportunity not to play and to rest. But he’s okay. Every check up is okay..is perfect.”

    Tiemoue Bakayoko is also back in training after missing Chelsea’s past few games, although Conte would not confirm whether the midfielder would make his squad on Saturday.

  • Chelsea manager, Conte defends his tactics during City defeat

    Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has defended the use of his tactics in his side’s defeat at Premier League leaders Manchester City.

    The Blues produced a surprisingly negative display and failed to have a shot on target in the match as Bernardo Silva’s goal less than a minute into the second half sealed the game and pushed Manchester City 18 points clear at the top and closer to the title.

    Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville called Chelsea’s display “absolutely unacceptable” and accused Conte’s players of being “mannequins”, while colleague Jamie Redknapp called their approach “anti-football” and “a crime against football”.

    The Italian boss responded: “You have to accept every critic, but I am not so stupid to play against Manchester City open and to lose 3-0 or 4-0.

    “A few days ago, Arsenal played twice against them and then you criticised [Arsenal manager Arsene] Wenger a lot because they conceded three goals in only 30 minutes.

    “The pundit has to use the head to understand when you speak about tactics because I think you must have knowledge to speak about tactics and not only to speak in a stupid way.”

    When asked if Chelsea could have been more ambitious in their play, striker Olivier Giroud, who came on as substitute, said: “It is a good question. The coach made his tactics. We tried to respect it.”

    Pep Guardiola’s side were forced to bide their time before making the breakthrough on Sunday and it came when Silva stole in ahead of Marcos Alonso from David Silva’s cross to beat Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

    Chelsea did not register a single shot on target, leaving Manchester City keeper Ederson a virtual bystander as he was even able to watch Alonso’s timid shot drift wide with seconds left.

    It was a disappointing day for Chelsea and manager Conte – and of even greater concern is that they are now five points adrift of Tottenham in fourth place in the race for spots in next season’s Champions League.

     

    BBC

  • Guardiola brands Chelsea manager, Conte a ‘master tactician’

    Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is a “master” tactician and will leave his mark on English football, according to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

    The Italian adopted a 5-3-2 formation to guide Chelsea to the Premier League title in his first season in charge.

    But the Blues are 22 points adrift of leaders City this term and the two sides meet at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

    “I think Conte is going to leave something to English football. I am sure of that,” said Guardiola.

    Conte saw his side beaten heavily 3-0 by rivals Arsenal in September 2016, after which the former Juventus and Italy boss changed his system from a 4-5-1 to playing with three centre-backs and two wing-backs.

    It allowed Chelsea to go on a club-record run of 13 consecutive victories,which laid the platform for their fifth Premier League triumph.

    This campaign has been a difficult one, though, with the Blues in fifth place and constant speculation surrounding Conte’s future at Stamford Bridge.

    Guardiola said: “What Antonio has done here in the Premier League, maybe the people don’t realise.

    “He introduced another way to attack with five at the back, another system. A lot of teams, even Arsenal, had to do a lot of imitating to do that.

    “Tactically, he is a master. He did it amazingly with the national team with Italy and when he went to Turin.”

     

    BBC

  • Conte praises fans as Hazard double sees off West Brom

    Chelsea manager Antonio Conte praised the club’s fans for sticking by him, after a comfortable win over West Bromwich Albion at Stamford Bridge eased the pressure on the Italian.

    Conte’s Chelsea future had been placed under the harshest spotlight after successive heavy losses to Bournemouth and Watford – but a victory that took them back up to fourth in the Premier League will ease those concerns for now.

    Conte’s name was sung throughout by the home fans, in an obvious show of support.

    “I have to thank the fans because they showed me great support,” he said. “They are reading speculation and rumours on me and I’m grateful to the fans.

    “It means they understand my passion, my will to defend this colour, this shirt, this badge.

    “I have to live with this pressure until the end of the season. I don’t want this pressure to weigh on the shoulders of my players.”

    Conte needed the brilliance of Eden Hazard to settle early uncertainty on the pitch and in the stands.

    Hazard exchanged passes with Olivier Giroud before giving Chelsea a first-half lead and, after Victor Moses slid home a second after the break, sealed victory with a powerful drive in the 71st minute.

    The win took the Blues a point ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham.

    West Brom, meanwhile, are seven points from safety after one win in 25 league games.

    They were hampered by losing loan signing Daniel Sturridge to injury inside three minutes. Substitute Jay Rodriguez wasted an opportunity to put them ahead when clean through, and Salomon Rondon and Jonny Evans also missed chances with the game in the balance.

    “Losing Daniel Sturridge after three minutes was a blow in itself,” said Pardew. “That was probably a bigger blow than the result.

    “He felt his hamstring after a 60m sprint in the first moments of the game. We’ll have to nurse him.”

    For Conte, however, it was a satisfying night and the pressure – temporarily at least – is off.

  • Conte admits he is ‘a disaster’ in signing players for Chelsea

    Chelsea manager Antonio Conte admits that he is “a bit of a disaster” when it comes to convincing the club’s board to sign new players.

    The Premier League champions failed to make any big signings in the January transfer window.

    And the 48-year-old Italian says he needs to be more persuasive.

    “I have to speak more with the managers who are very, very good at persuading their clubs to spend money to buy top players,” he said.

    “I think I’m a bit of a disaster to convince the club to buy players. I think in this aspect I can improve a lot.

    “I have to learn a lot from the other coaches, the other managers, in that aspect.”

    Conte said in January that he was “happy” at Chelsea, playing down reports that his relationship with owner Roman Abramovich had become strained.

    Abramovich was reportedly angry that the Italian had said he did not choose the club’s signings this season.

    Chelsea are facing a fight to qualify for next season’s Champions League after winning one of their past five Premier League matches.

    They go into Monday’s game against West Brom in fifth place, two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur and 22 adrift of leaders Manchester City.

    Striker Alexis Sanchez and defender Virgil van Dijk were both linked with the club recently before going to Manchester United and Liverpool respectively.

    But Conte said he can still get the best out of his squad.

    “My task is to try and improve every single player, in every aspect – in terms of their mentality also. For this, I’m very good,” he said.

  • Chelsea ‘have to take another decision’ – Conte

    Chelsea manager Antonio Conte says “the club have to take another decision” if they do not think he is doing a good job – after the 4-1 loss at Watford.

    The champions suffered a second straight Premier League defeat by three goals and are in fourth place, one point ahead of Tottenham.

    “My position? It is the same,” he told BBC Radio 5 live after Monday’s game.

    “I stay here, try to work and put all of myself into the work. The pressure? Which pressure? What is the pressure?”

    The Italian won the league in his first season in charge, but the Blues are 19 points behind leaders Manchester City after a 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth and the Watford reverse.

    Before the game, Conte asked the Stamford Bridge club to release a statement backing him.

    “I work – if this is enough it is OK,” he said after their latest defeat. “Otherwise, the club have to take another decision.”

    Chelsea – who had Tiemoue Bakayoko sent off after 30 minutes – were deservedly beaten by the Hornets, with four of the game’s goals coming in the last 10 minutes.

    The hosts led through Troy Deeney’s penalty three minutes before half-time. Eden Hazard scored an 82nd-minute equaliser, before late strikes by Daryl Janmaat, Gerard Deulofeu and Roberto Pereyra.

    Conte started without a recognised striker, bringing Olivier Giroud – signed from Arsenal on transfer deadline day – on for a second-half debut.

    The former Juventus and Italy boss, who has 18 months left on his contract, said his team looked “uncomfortable”, adding: “We tried to pay football but I think today we didn’t show this.

    “In this situation, the fault is the coach’s – maybe I made a bad decision with the starting XI.

    “When you start in this way and play in this way you have doubt about the game. During the game it is difficult to change something; afterwards you can understand it.

    “In the second half, I saw a great will but at the same time a lot of confusion. We don’t play in this way.

    “We have to accept this and fight a lot in this season.”