CONTE: I ADMIRE LUIS ENRIQUE... HE’S FANTASTIC
Blues boss in glowing tribute to the man who’s favourite to replace him
HIS BARCELONA HONOURS La Liga:
Copa del Rey:
Spanish Super Cup:
UEFA Champions League: UEFA Super Cup:
FIFA Club World Cup: ANTONIO CONTE has given Luis Enrique a glowing endorsement – even though the Spaniard is the bookies’ favourite to take his job at Chelsea.
The former Barcelona boss is odds-on to succeed Conte at Stamford Bridge this summer and may even get the call before the season’s end
But Conte, who knows anything less than a win against West Brom will put his job on the line, was glowing about Enrique who is keen for a move to England.
Chelsea have denied making contact with the 47-yearold and Conte has made it clear that if the club want to get rid of him they will have to sack him.
But the Italian, who still has 18 months left on his £9million-a-year contract, said that whatever happens he will have no hard feelings towards Enrique.
“I have spoken with him. I know him. We played against each other, and he’s a really good person,” Conte said.
“When I was the coach of Juventus, he was Roma’s coach. I have great admiration for him and, sometimes, he is a fantastic coach.
“He reached his targets with Barcelona, and also with Roma, you could see a wellorganised team. I can speak about him very well, as a person and a coach.
“We do this job, and our job is not ‘difficult’, but you must be open and understand the situation can change.
“A club can take different decisions. It’s the same for me. But, I repeat, I’m not jealous or envious of other managers. Everyone knows his job, his work. I have, usually, a great respect.”
Conte also talked up his achievements this season, with Chelsea still on course to finish in the top four, still in the FA Cup and due to face Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League next Tuesday. But he knows his job is under serious threat after back-to-back defeats to Bournemouth and Watford.
It feels like it is just a matter of time for Conte, particularly with players complaining that he is working them too hard and his training sessions are boring.
But Conte, who gave his players three days off last week, insists he would be disappointed if his players were smiling during training and it was always about hard work
He said: “I think that, usually when you work, you don’t smile. Especially if you work hard. It’s very difficult to smile. But, at the same time, you understand that only through work can you reach a fantastic target like last season.
“For sure, to have a bit of rest after a busy period, I think it was important. It was important for them, to try to stay with their families, to spend more time with themselves.
“In Germany, France and in Spain and Italy, it happens like this.
In England, only, this doesn’t happen. To have seven days of break, to give them the opportunity to breathe, spend time with their families and not think about us.
“I think we are ready to face West Brom, and then Hull City and Barcelona. We must be ready to play three games in eight days. We are ready.”
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