Focus on Conte future amid Chelsea’s blues
Newcastle, May 12: With Chelsea’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League hanging by a slender thread, the future of their manager Antonio Conte is the main topic of conversation around Stamford Bridge.
Conte has been the subject of constant speculation that his second season with Chelsea could well be his last. The Italian has feuded with Chelsea’s hierarchy over their failure to back his transfer plans last year and has done little to quell the impression he would be willing to leave.
The equation is quite simple ahead of Sunday’s final day of the Premier League season; victory for Chelsea at Newcastle and defeat for fourth- placed Liverpool at home to Brighton would secure a Champions League berth for the west Londoners.
A Liverpool draw however would consign fifthplaced Chelsea to the dubious consolation prize of Europa League football.
Conte appears to have all but accepted that is the most likely scenario, but the Blues boss insists the club is still in a better position than when he arrived following a campaign that saw the departure of Jose Mourinho and a lowly position of tenth in 2015- 16.
“There are six top teams at the start of the season ready to fight for a place in the Champions League,” Conte said.
“Failing to make the Champions League can happen. In the past, it happened the same. Don’t forget two years ago, Chelsea ended the season 10th and not in the FA Cup final, not in the semi- finals of the League Cup, and they were eliminated in the last 16 against PSG in the Champions League. It can happen.”
SPECULATION Despite appearing to write off his side’s top- four hopes, Conte will play his best available starting XI at Newcastle and will not consider resting players with the FA Cup final against Manchester United next Saturday in mind.
Conte is adamant that the constant talk over his position at Stamford Bridge has not upset him and has caused no issues for his side on the back of last season’s title success.
“I think I’m living with this speculation since the start of this season,” he said.