TheNewsGuru

Tag: Conte

  • Life at Chelsea was tougher under Antonio Conte than Jose Mourinho-John Terry

    John Terry reckons life was tougher at Chelsea under Antonio Conte than his predecessor Jose Mourinho. The Blues legend played under both managers during his long career at Stamford Bridge and won Premier League titles with both bosses.

    Terry only spent one year with the Italian before bringing the curtain down on his time in west London and heading to the Championship with Aston Villa.

    But that was long enough for Conte to make a big impression on the centre-back and he told Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football that work became harder after Mourinho left.

    Terry said: “Yes [Conte’s training is harder than Mourinho’s was.

    “Tougher than most, physically tougher, more demanding, a bit more running, which is normal for Italian coaches.

    “Tactically a little bit more, but I think you can see, when you’re a player, working 45 minutes to an hour every day on your tactics and you see that benefit at the weekend, you don’t mind doing it.

    “He’s got a real good balance and he makes it enjoyable week in, week out.”

    Terry became one of Mourinho’s untouchables during his first stint at Chelsea, leading the club to their first Premier League triumph, and the bond between the two will always be special.

    Terry added: “He was the best manager, and the best coach as well. He did everything.

    “He was the first one to come and revolutionise it at Chelsea. He would be the first in, 8am, he’d be the one setting the cones out, and you’d come in as players and he’d be out there, if it was pouring with rain, getting his session organised.

    “Mentally and psychologically, he had us from day one. We bought in to whatever he was going to deliver that day and he was the same when he came back. Having his presence there was enough.

    “He had his eyes on everyone and when he speaks no one messes about or plays with a ball. You listen to him, he was the boss.

    “I would give everything for him. I would leave that pitch in a coffin for him and every player felt the same.”

    However, Terry is convinced the former Juventus chief’s future lies in the Premier League as part of a long-term building project following a title win in his debut campaign.

    Terry added: “I think they see him as a long-term manager. having worked with him, the way he dealt with me and other players, I think he’s first class

    “I think they stick with him long-term. We’re only having this discussion because City have raised the bar.”

  • David Luiz tells Antonio Conte he ‘wants to leave’ Chelsea

    David Luiz tells Antonio Conte he ‘wants to leave’ Chelsea

    David Luiz has held showdown talks with Chelsea – and Bayern Munich are lurking if the Blues can’t meet his first-team demands.

    The Brazilian, 30, and manager Antonio Conte met earlier this week to get to the bottom of the issues between the pair, the Daily Express revealed.

    The meeting didn’t totally clear the air – and Luiz, it’s reported, will only stay if he is in the manager’s starting plans.

    The Express say he will force through a move out of Stamford Bridge if he doesn’t receive assurances about his future, with a source telling the paper he is not
    willing to sit on the bench in a World Cup year.

    It is understood German champions Bayern Munich are waiting in the wings for the centre-half if he doesn’t get his way.

    Luiz’s lack of game time arrives after a reported training ground bust up and the improving form on Danish defender Andreas Christensen.

    Asked last week if Luiz was happy at Stamford Bridge, Conte said: “I think now is not the right moment to speak about this.

    “There are a lot of games before the transfer window and now is not the right time this is not important.”

    The Blues would want to recoup the £34m they paid PSG in 2016 to resign him if they are to let him go for a second time.

    Champions Chelsea are third in the Premier League and this Saturday have a home match with Southampton.

  • Antonio Conte: Chelsea manager fined by Football Association for sending-off

    Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has been fined £8,000 by the Football Association after he was sent to the stand during his side’s Premier League victory over Swansea last month.

    Conte was dismissed for disputing referee Neil Swarbrick’s decision not to award a corner in the first half.

    Following the match, which Chelsea won 1-0, the 48-year-old Italian apologised to Swarbrick.

    He added: “I made a mistake. With my players I suffer. It’s a pity.”

    Chelsea are third in the Premier League table, 11 points behind leaders Manchester City.

  • Chelsea Boss praises Morata, perfect for Premier League

    Blue’s Striker, Alvaro Morata is perfect for the Premier League, according to Chelsea boss Antonio Conte.

     

    The Spanish International was signed from Real Madrid this summer as a replacement for the controversial striker, Diego Costa.

     

    Since joining Chelsea, Morata has scored 6 goals in 6 Premier League matches, including a hat-trick in Saturday’s 4-0 win over Stoke City.

     

    Conte believes the 25-year-old has already adapted to the rigours of the English game after an impressive display against stoke on Saturday.

     

    “Now he is involved totally in our style of football and our idea and he is very strong,” Conte said after the win.

     

    “This league is not easy, above all for the strikers because during the game there is a lot of physical contact, and you must be prepared for this type of game because referees don’t whistle a lot and that’s good for the game.”

     

    “He adapted very well to this league but now he has to continue to work and improve because I think he has only just started his path.”

     

     

  • Antonio Conte impressed with Alvaro Morata’s performance during Burnley match

    Chelsea’s coach has praised Alvaro Morata after scoring a goal on his debut against Burnley.

    Morata started on the bench for Chelsea against Burnley but replaced the anonymous Michy Batshuayi in the second half.

    The former Real Madrid striker sparked Chelsea’s late revival with his first goal for the club.

    But it wasn’t enough as the Premier League champions suffered a surprise defeat at their own Stamford Bridge.

    Nevertheless, Conte was happy with how Morata performed.

    Conte said: “Morata is very important and it’s important that he now adapts himself to our philosophy – today he played a good game with the right intensity.

    “Now he has to continue to work with all the rest of our players.”

    The Chelsea boss also insisted he was unconcerned by Chelsea’s struggles in the transfer market and stressed he is determined to fight for his players.

    Conte added: “We must focus on working very hard with these players. As for the transfer market, the club is trying to do the best. I am not worried, I am ready to fight with these players.

    “I repeat: it is important for us to concentrate on our work, to be focused every day in training and to try to work in our best way. No excuses.” Conte said.

    Culled from www.express.co.uk

  • Premier League Win: ‘We were not lucky, we did a great job’ – Conte

    Premier League Win: ‘We were not lucky, we did a great job’ – Conte

    …Says Chelsea will win FA cup to have a fantastic season

    Chelsea FC have been crowned champions for the sixth time in history.

    Antonio Conte’s side won the Premier League with two games to spare after a late goal by Michy Batshuayi secured the title with a 1-0 win over West Brom.

    The £33million striker has endured a frustrating season, spent largely on the bench. But he came to Chelsea’s rescue on 81 minutes – just five minutes after replacing Pedro as a substitute – and produced the all-important title-winning goal.

    Now he wants his players to make it a “double”.

    Conte celebrated at the Hawthorns after having a bucket of water poured over him and being sprayed with champagne after Michy Batshuayi’s late winner clinched the Premier League.

    He has also led his players to the FA Cup final as they face Arsenal later this month as he hopes to win another trophy to his impressive first season.

    Conte said: “We were not lucky, we did a great job. It is a great season, but to be a fantastic season we have to win the FA Cup.

    “This is for my players. I have to say thanks for their commitment, their attitude and passion, and their will to do something great this season.

    “Now, after this win, I think that we must be happy for all the season. This win is for the players. They deserved this for their great commitment through all the season. We won this title together.

    We fought a lot to win this title. My players were fantastic in a club who supported us.

    “This is for my players. I have to say thanks for their commitment, their attitude and passion, and their will to do something great this season.

    “Now, after this win, I think that we must be happy for all the season. This win is for the players. They deserved this for their great commitment through all the season. We won this title together.

    We fought a lot to win this title. My players were fantastic in a club who supported us.

    “In the present, in the past, I stay with my players in positive and negative situations. We won this title together.

    Batshuayi was an unlikely hero as the £33m striker stepped off the bench and scored only his second Premier League goal and Conte admitted it has been a tough time for the Belgium striker.

    Conte said: “I thought that Hazard and Pedro were tired and we needed more energy. Michy paid me a lot with this change! It was great. It wasn’t easy for me to arrive in England and try different habits, a different language and inherit players after a bad season.”

    Batshuayi said: “It’s the best moment in my football career. It’s good. Everybody is happy. This is the best day for Chelsea. I want the trophy today. This is the best moment in my footballing life, for sure.”

    Chelsea defender David Luiz added: “I am happy. Very happy. It is my first Premier League title. When I decided to come back here I dreamed to win the Premier League. I am very happy because my dream came true.”

    West Brom boss Tony Pulis paid tribute and said: “You have to give Chelsea, Antonio and all his coaching staff the credit. He’s got them well set up. They’re very well organised.

    “They’re probably at their best on the counter-attacking, very good springing out of defence, and have some wonderful players. They have some fantastic individual players who can change games in the blink of an eye, as they have all season. They’re very strong at the back as well. They deserve the title.”

     

  • Premiership: I want the title or nothing, Conte warns Hazard, Kante

    Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has told Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante to forget about individual awards and focus on ensuring the Premier League leaders are crowned champions.

    Chelsea stars Hazard and Kante were named this week on the six-man shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year award, along with Tottenham’s Harry Kane, Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez and Everton’s Romelu Lukaku.

    Conte acknowledged Belgium playmaker Hazard and France midfielder Kante deserved nominations for their part in Chelsea’s rise to a seven-point lead at the top of the table.

    “But I don’t like to make a choice between two of my players. It’s not right. They deserve the best because they are having a good season, but I think all my players are having a great season.

    “I’m pleased because it’s a fight between two of my players and four other players from other teams. I want to see who is the winner.”

    Although the title fight is far from over, Chelsea have already been linked with a host of transfer targets for next season, including Everton striker Lukaku.

    The Belgian, who has scored 24 goals this season, has already had one spell with Chelsea before being sold by former Blues boss Jose Mourinho in 2014.

    Chelsea legend Didier Drogba recently said Lukaku still has a point to prove at “the house he knows”, but Conte was keen to play down talk of a possible move for the powerful forward.

    “I think it’s not the right time to talk about this,” he said.

    “I have great respect for Drogba, a legend for Chelsea, but I can’t talk about this.

    “It’s not right to talk about players from other teams, we must have respect for players and other clubs.”

  • Costa not untouchable at Chelsea, says Conte

    Costa not untouchable at Chelsea, says Conte

    Chelsea boss, Antonio Conte, has insisted that Diego Costa is not untouchable in his squad.

    Conte has already confirmed that Costa will be in the squad, for their Sunday game against Hull City at Stamford Bridge.

    The 28-year-old was left out of the Blues’s 3-0 win at Leicester City in their last Premier League fixture, after he reportedly clashed with Conte over a back injury and an offer from China.

    He rejoined first-team training on Tuesday, after training alone on Sunday and Monday, with other squad members given two days off.

    “I must be honest, I don’t like this word, ‘untouchable,’” Conte said during his Friday media conference.

    “You prove you should play a game in training sessions, and you have to prove you should start. I don’t like this word, this adjective, ‘untouchable.’ I prefer all my players show me every single day that they deserve to play on Sunday. For me, that’s important. From my career, I learnt this.”

    The former Juventus manager, also urged Chelsea supporters not to boo the player.

    “I’m sure on Sunday that, if Diego starts the game, he’ll put all himself into it for this club, the shirt and the fans, and do everything he can to win the game,” Conte said.

    “I don’t think this situation can happen [with fans booing him]. It’s not right, it’s not right. I repeat: Last week, he had this injury, this pain in his back. Now he came back with us. I’m sure that, together, we have to win against Hull City. It’s important for me to be focused on all: on me, on the players, on the fans and on the game, because it’s a really important game for us to win.

    “Our fans are really important, always, because they are great. They push a lot when we play at home. They push a lot when we play away. And, for us, for me, they are the 12th player on the pitch. I hope to continue in this way, to push a lot our team, my players, in every moment of the game. They are a really important part for us to try and win and try and continue to fight for the title.”

  • Chelsea are better title contenders, Wenger admits

    Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, has admitted that Chelsea are “super favourites” to win the Premier League title this season.

    The Blues are six points clear at the top of the table ahead of second-placed Liverpool and nine ahead of the Gunners.

    Antonio Conte’s men are currently on a run of 12 consecutive wins and will take on Stoke City on New Year’s Eve.

    Wenger says the title is Chelsea’s to lose, but it could all come down to head-to-head.

    “It [head-to-head matches] will be vital of course,” he told a media conference ahead of Sunday’s contest against Crystal Palace.

    “But Chelsea are the super favourites, it is there’s to lose.

    “They can still lose it, there is still a long way to go. It will be difficult for everybody and head-to-head will have a big influence.”