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Tag: Conte

  • Conte unsure of coaching Inter next season after losing Europa Cup to Sevilla

    Conte unsure of coaching Inter next season after losing Europa Cup to Sevilla

    Inter head coach Antonio Conte has said that he may not be at San Siro next term.

    The former Juventus and Chelsea boss enjoyed an excellent debut season with the Nerazzurri, which saw them push the Turin giants in Serie A before finishing second while they were also Europa League runners-up.

    Speaking after 3-2 loss to Sevilla in the Europa League final on Friday, Conte suggested that it might have been his last game in charge of the club.

    “We’re going to meet next week with the club and we’ll decide about my future. I’m not sure that I’ll be the Inter manager next season, we’ll decide together,” he told Sky Sport Italia . “Inter will plan the future with or without me.”

    Conte’s future has been in doubt since the conclusion of the Serie A campaign earlier this month, after which he launched a scathing attack on the club’s directors.

    “I don’t think the work of the players has been recognised and I don’t think my work has been recognised,” he said.

    “We all received very little protection from the club, absolutely zero.

    “I don’t like it when people jump on the bandwagon – they have to be there in the good times as well as the bad and here at Inter it wasn’t like that, I’m sorry to say.

    “We have to grow and improve in all areas, including off the field, and a big club should protect its players more.”

    After Friday’s game in Cologne, Inter president Steven Zhang did little to ease fears over the future of the 51-year-old.

    “He and his staff, together with the players and all the other members of the club are doing a great job,” he told Sky Sport Italia .

    “Now the players and the staff will rest, because they deserve it, and then we will plan for the future.

    “We want to improve next season. The balance of this season is very positive. We are on a path that has allowed us to get to the final.

    “All of us, on and off the pitch, are doing a great job and are heading in the right direction.

    “Winning or losing is part of football, but getting to the final makes us optimistic for the future.”

  • Madrid to sack Lopetegui as Conte set to take over

    Real Madrid will sack manager Julen Lopetegui on Monday with former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte set to be named as his successor, Goal understands.
    The former Spain manager will pay the price for his side’s dismal start to the season, and the ex-Chelsea boss will be called upon to take over
    Sunday’s dismal Clasico was the final straw for Lopetegui, who watched his side be torn apart in a 5-1 defeat to Barcelona.
    The defeat saw Madrid lose three straight Liga matches for the first time since 2009 and left the club in ninth place, seven points behind leaders Barcelona.
    Madrid’s executives have scheduled a meeting for Monday, where they will make Lopetegui’s dismissal official. A formal announcement is set to follow.
    “We have to take a decision. We can’t continue like this any longer,” a Real Madrid source told Goal.
    Speaking after the Clasico, Lopetegui expressed his hope that he would be given the opportunity to guide Madrid out of a sorry slump.
    He told reporters after a forgettable display in Catalunya: “I feel sad at the moment, but with full strength to remain in charge of this group.
    “This is a tough blow, but I am strong enough to know everything can be turned around. There is a long way to go, and I have a lot of faith in this group of players.”
    Sergio Ramos, meanwhile, claimed the Madrid players will have no input in decisions regarding Lopetegui’s future, with results set to determine the fate of the under-fire coach.
    Madrid skipper Ramos claims to have no knowledge as to what calls will be made by the club’s board, telling reporters when quizzed on his manager: “We are with the coach to the death. But results determine a lot whether a coach stays.
    “It is not our decision. So we will stay to the side, let the hours pass and whatever happens will happen. It’s not about the players.”
    However, Lopetegui’s tenure will end barely four months after it began, with the 52-year-old taking charge in June one day after being fired by Spain on the eve of the World Cup.
    The ex-Porto boss oversaw a difficult start to the season for Madrid, who have lost five matches already in 2018-19: four in La Liga and one in the Champions League at CSKA Moscow.
    Conte is the man who will be expected to lead a turnaround at the Bernabeu, after the Italian left Chelsea following the 2017-18 season.
    Madrid contacted Conte following Sunday’s Clasico defeat, and the 49-year-old is understood to be receptive to the idea of taking over in the Spanish capital.
    Conte was also contacted in the summer, but swatted away interest at the time with his contract situation at Chelsea still not sorted.
    But it appears that the Italian is ready to commit to Madrid, with Conte expected in the Spanish capital on Monday.

  • ‘Blame me for Chelsea’s 3-0 loss to Newcastle’ – Conte

    Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte has admitted he is to blame for the Blues’ woeful defeat to Newcastle.

    He also described Chelsea’s fifth-place finish in the just-concluded Premier League season as unacceptable.

    Chelsea’s top-four hopes were eventually crushed following their 3-0 away defeat to Newcastle United on the final day of the season on Sunday.

    The defeat means Chelsea ended in fifth and could only secure a Europa League ticket.

    Conte said, in his post-match comments, that Chelsea did not deserve anything in the game at St. James’ Park.

    “We deserved to lose because our start wasn’t good and we suffered by losing every ball. Newcastle were more determined than us,” the Italian said.

    “We didn’t lose our Champions League place today, we had chances in the last two games, but to finish the season this way is not good for anyone connected to the club.

    “When you are at the end of the season, this performance can happen, but the first person to answer for this must be the coach. I wasn’t able to convey that determination to my players.”

    He stated they must be at their best ahead of next weekend’s FA Cup final against Manchester United.

    “We have six days to prepare for the final of the FA Cup and we have to change.”

    When quizzed if Sunday’s defeat was his last Premier League game in charge of Chelsea, Conte replied: “I have a contract and I am committed to this club.”

  • Players like Messi born once every 50 years — Conte

    Players like Messi born once every 50 years — Conte

    Antonio Conte hailed Lionel Messi as the kind of player born once every 50 years after the Barcelona superstar’s virtuoso performance eliminated Chelsea from the Champions League at Camp Nou, ESPN reports.

    Messi scored twice to take his tally to 100 goals in the competition and also set up Ousmane Dembele to open his Barcelona account, as Chelsea were made to pay for their lack of ruthlessness in the final third as well as defensive mistakes.

    At the final whistle Conte marched onto the pitch to congratulate Messi on his display, and the Chelsea coach had more kind words for the Argentine in his postmatch news conference.

    “We are talking about a player who can move the final result for every team, for any team he is playing in,” Conte said of Messi.

    “He started to play with Barcelona and for sure he will finish his career in Barcelona. Many teams can hope to have him in their team, but it won’t be possible.

    “This is a great story for Barcelona and Messi. This type of player is born (once) in 50 years. We are talking about one single player with this capacity, with this ability, with these skills.

    “He’s fantastic. We are talking about a player who is able to move the final result for the team for whom he is playing.”

    Asked what he said to Messi, Conte said, “When you have the opportunity to make a great compliment to Messi, I think it’s right.

    “It’s right to praise a super, super, super top player. A player who is able to score 60 goals in every season, not only for one season. I’m very pleased to have the opportunity at the end of the game to give him my compliments because we are talking about an extraordinary player, the best in the world.”

    Chelsea created a host of chances to change the course of the tie, hitting the post with a Marcos Alonso free kick in the first half and seeing Antonio Rudiger’s header crash off the crossbar late on, and Conte insisted that the 4-1 aggregate scoreline did not reflect his team’s performances across the two matches.

    “If you watched the game, you can see the final result is unfair,” he added. “Our start was terrible, to concede a goal after only two minutes. But, after this, we tried to play football for a long time and dominated the game, creating chances to score.”

  • Conte targets Chelsea win at Old Trafford

    Chelsea boss, Antonio Conte, has said that they will do everything possible to take all three points in Sunday’s Premier League clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

    Chelsea are currently fourth on 53 points, three points adrift of United who are second in the league table.

    In their first meeting earlier in the season, Chelsea won 1-0, thanks to Alvaro Morata’s goal.

    Speaking ahead of the big clash, Conte stated that The Blues will be facing a very physical United side.

    “Manchester United are a really strong team with great physical power,” Conte said during his press conference on Saturday. “It’s a massive game for us and we have to try to get the three points.”

    Conte warned that Chelsea must be aware of United’s dangerous counter-attacks.

    “It is important we keep our balance this weekend and play with great intelligence if we are to win the game. We must be wary of Manchester United’s counter-attacks.”

    Conte stated that his players can draw inspiration from their performance against Barcelona in Tuesday’s Champions League which ended 1-1.

    He said:”Our performance against Barcelona can give great confidence to our players, and at the same time it shows that if we work hard as a team, it is very difficult to play against us.”

    The former Juventus boss expressed his hope that Paul Pogba will not be available for United in the game.

    “We are talking about a top player, a fantastic player. My expectation is to see him on the pitch. If he stays out it will be better.

    “When you play against Manchester United you have to know that anything can happen.

    “They have a great physicality and there is the risk to lose the game, they are a really strong team. It is a massive game for us, we have to do the best to try and get three points.”

    And when asked about his recent clash with Jose Mourinho and whether he will shake the Portuguese’s hand, he said: “I think in the past we have both said the things, OK, for me it is OK, I am not interested to speak about this topic, no, I am not interested in this.”

  • Chelsea unlucky to lose Carabao Cup clash to Arsenal – Conte

    Antonio Conte claims Chelsea were unlucky to be knocked out of the Carabao Cup following their 2-1 second leg semi-final defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates on Wednesday night.

    Eden Hazard opened the scoring for Chelsea but Arsenal drew level after Nacho Monreal’s header from a corner bounced off Marcos Alonso before deflecting off Antonio Rudiger into the net.

    And in the second half, a cross from Alexandre Lacazette deflected off Rudiger and fell kindly for Granit Xhaka who then poked the ball past Willy Caballero.

    “My thoughts are there is disappointment for the final result,” Conte said in his post-match interview.

    “I think my players must be pleased with their effort, we tried to reach the final, we conceded two goals and we were unlucky, two deflections.

    “It is a pity because we had a good run in this competition, it is a pity for me, the players and fans.

    “We started very well, played a good first half and in the second half I saw a lot of balance.”

    Conte lamented the loss of Willian to injury which saw the introduction of new signing Ross Barkley.

    “When there is an injury to one of your best players it is not simple, especially when on the bench the only substitue is Ross Barkley,” Conte said.

    “Barkley has a lot of space for improvement, he is working with us only two weeks but for sure today I was forced to make this substitution, but he can improve a lot.

    “I don’t need anything, I’m a coach and I continue with my players.”

  • Conte continues war of words with Mourinho: “I won’t forget this”

    After he hit out at Jose Mourinho who seemed to suggest some of his rivals were “clowns” on the sidelines when speaking last week, Conte took exception to that and said that Mourinho had “senile dementia” as he always acted like this in the past.

    Then came then next public spat as Mourinho hit back on Friday and said he would “never be banned for match fixing” when speaking of Conte’s past charges in Italy, to which Conte responded on Saturday by saying Mourinho was a “fake, little man” and always would be.

    Speaking to the media ahead of Chelsea’s League Cup first leg against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, Conte refused to let his war of words with Mourinho go.

    “Do I have the face that looks like I regret it? I don’t think so,” Conte said. “But we have both said things and we will see what happens in future. Just to add… He is using serious words. I won’t forget this. This isn’t a problem between the clubs. It’s between me and him. I stop.”

    The Italian coach also confirmed that the League Managers Associations (LMA) have yet to get involved, with the situation spiraling out of control.

    With Conte and Mourinho clashing on the sidelines at Stamford Bridge last season (Chelsea were winning 4-0 against Mourinho’s Manchester United on his first trip back to Chelsea after being fired in December 2016, with Conte firing the crowd up even more) this has been bubbling up for quite some time.

    Given the fact that Mourinho is the most successful manager in Chelsea’s history and Conte then turned up and won a title in his first season, with largely the same squad Mourinho had heading into a relegation battle in 2015-16, the subplots are numerous.

    Mourinho (who didn’t directly name the current boss when making the “clown on the sidelines” comments) has suckered Conte in and the Italian has not only taken the bait, he’s trying to devour Mourinho.

    Let’s see what the master of the dark arts has to say when he speaks to the media ahead of United’s clash with Stoke City next Monday.

    Right now Mourinho is on a warm weather training trip with United in Dubai but there’s no doubt he’s already crafting his response to get under Conte’s skin once again.

    NBCSports

  • You’re a “little man’’, Chelsea’s Conte berates Mourinho

    Chelsea manager Antonio Conte continued his ongoing feud with Jose Mourinho on Saturday by calling the Manchester United manager “a little man”.

    Mourinho made a pointed comment about match-fixing during the week, a reference to the four-month suspension Conte was handed in the 2012/2013 season.

    His offence was his failure to report match-fixing at his previous club Siena.

    He was later cleared by an Italian court of any wrongdoing.

    “I think when you try to hurt a person, especially if you know very well the truth of what happens, the court proved my innocence.

    “When you do this it means you are a little man,” Conte said after Chelsea’s 0-0 FA Cup third-round draw at Championship side Norwich City.

    “But this is the not the first time. He does this in the past and he continues to do this in the present.”

    Mourinho and Conte have never been friends but their relationship deteriorated this week after Mourinho spoke about some managers behaving “like a clown” on the touchline.

    This was taken as a reference to Conte and Liverpool’s Juergen Klopp.

    In response on Friday, the Chelsea manager accused the Portuguese of “senile dementia”, which led to Mourinho saying he had not mentioned any names.

    “This is his way, it is no surprise. We all know him,” Conte said. “Life will go on, I‘m not worried about him.”

    Conte refused to criticise his players after making nine changes for the match against Norwich.

    “It’s a bit frustrating. We knew the difficulty of the game. When you play away in this competition it’s not easy,” he said.

    “In the first half we had difficulty to attack but in the second half we created chances to score.

    “Norwich deserve to have another game. For us it’s not simple to add another game in the schedule. These are the rules though.”

  • Barkley £15m deal a good opportunity – Conte

    Chelsea manager Antonio Conte feels the club have taken a “good opportunity” to sign Everton midfielder Ross Barkley.

    The 24-year-old is expected to have a medical with the London club on Friday prior to completing a £15m move.

    When asked about the deal, Conte told reporters Barkley was a “good prospect” but warned he was recovering from hamstring surgery in August.

    “He’s very young and has a lot of space for improvement,” said Conte. “He is very strong, good technique.”

    The Chelsea boss added: “He’s a good prospect but at the same time, it will be very important to understand, if the player signs, we must have patience to help him recover.

    “Don’t forget he had a bad injury, a surgery and this player has not played for seven months.”

    Barkley had hamstring surgery in August, the same month in which he turned down a move to Chelsea on transfer deadline day.

    The England international rejected a new deal at Everton and is out of contract at the end of this season, opening the door for a cut-price move.

    Everton manager Sam Allardyce said on Thursday the club had been resigned to losing Barkley for some time.

    And now, barring late hitches, he is likely to secure a move to Chelsea.

    It will mean the player is leaving Goodison Park after 13 years, having joined Everton as an 11-year-old in 2005.

    The academy graduate has played 150 times for Everton in the Premier League, scoring 21 times since making his debut in 2011.

    BBC Sports

  • Victor Moses reveals how life has changed under Antonio Conte

    Victor Moses reveals how life has changed under Antonio Conte

    The 26-year-old has had a resurgence of his career since being moved to wing back and admits life just doesn’t get better than this both on and off the field.

    Moses pocketed a championship medal, got married, established himself as ‘the indispensable man’ in manager Antonio Conte’s side and helped Nigeria become the first African nation to qualify for next year’s World Cup.

    He said: “For me, its definitely the top – my best year so far, on and off the pitch.”

    Only hiccup is being squeezed out of the to three to become African Player of the Year, behind Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Egypt’s Mo Salah and Sengal’s Sadio Mane – a decision that angered the Nigerian Football Federation.

    Moses would rather claim he was in the running then being over-looked.

    He added: “I must have done well. It felt good to be nominated. I’ve worked so hard. It’s a bit crazy and shows how far I’ve come.”

    Moses had the perseverance to make a success of his Chelsea career despite being continually sent out on loan says a great deal about his character.

    Yet this determination pales into insignificance when compared to the biggest mountain he had to climb.

    Moses was just 11 when he arrived in England as an asylum seeker after both his mother and father were killed during religious clashes in Nigeria in 2002.

    He was playing football in the streets when his parents lost their lives. Just a week later, his remaining family had cobbled together enough money to send him away from his homeland.

    Palace under Neil Warnock gave him his chance. His natural ability showed he would never have been a mid-level journeyman, with mates claiming he would either play Champions League, or on park pitches.

    No-one else at Chelsea can do what he does and without him, Conte’s 3-4-3 system would collapse.

    After spending the previous three seasons being shipped around on loan, it might be a surprise.

    Never able to make much of an impression at Liverpool, Stoke City or West Ham United, Moses looked set to be sold by before Conte arrived. Just another youngster who could not cut it at Chelsea.

    Moses spent most of his career in a more advance role, before settling into a wing-back as Conte dramatically tore up previous manuals and stamped his own authority on the club.

    He said: “Becoming a wing back is not an easy transition. It’s not an easy job and you need stamina to play there.

    “The manager works me on the training ground, and it’s been really good. When you have someone who is really backing you it gives you confidence.”

    He picked up an injury against his former club Palace and was out of the side for six weeks in the autumn, but was recalled the moment he was fit again.

    He added: “It’s been a great year for me. I’ve really enjoyed it, but want to keep it going.”

    After playing for England from U-16 to U-21, Moses opted for the country of his birth and says: “Nigeria were the first African country to qualify for the world cup.

    “We are like Chelsea. We believe in ourselves. Chelsea have loads of games of coming up. We’ve got a great squad, and the manager we have here, we know what we are capable of.”