CONTE
Chelsea manager entertains as Blues close in on title
LONDON Tottenham Hotspur, can only watch and hope after they dropped points in a defeat at West Ham United last Friday and do not play again until Sunday.
Conte, whose side have led the table since November in his first season in charge, has been counting down the points, repeating each week like a mantra the number needed to get over the line. Tottenham have been breathing down their necks.
“Our worst moment was after the (Manchester) United defeat (last month) because Tottenham were winning. To see your opponent only four points behind was very hard,” he said.
“In that moment my players showed me great commitment to overcome this moment and to try to win the league.”
Commitment and hard work are buzzwords for the 47-yearold Conte but he urged his players in Football Leaks: The Dirty Business of Football, based on the research of Der Spiegel journalists Rafael Buschmann and Michael Wulzinger.
The knee injury Ibrahimovic sustained in the Europa League against Anderlecht last month may cost him the guarantee of a second year at Old Trafford.
It is claimed that the contract extension would only have been triggered if Ibrahimovic had made 31 Premier League starts — he fell short on 27 — and United finished in the top three.
The 35-year-old Swede had knee surgery last week and could be out of action until next year. United are open to the idea of the striker doing his rehabilitation with them but it remains to be seen if he plays for United again.
Pogba’s £165,000-a-week basic salary may seem modest in comparison to enjoy their moment.
“It’s great to breathe this atmosphere at Stamford Bridge,” he said. “It’s great for me, for my players, for the club to see this great atmosphere.”
Middlesbrough will join northeast rivals Sunderland in the Championship next season.
Boro are seven points adrift of the safety zone with two games remaining.
It is the fourth time Middlesbrough have been relegated from the Premier League and captain Ben Gibson said they would have to learn lessons from this season so they could bounce back.
“It’s not just tonight it’s a full season,” he told Sky Sports after the defeat at Stamford Bridge. “We haven’t been good enough. That’s every player, the staff, myself.” Agencies to those of some of the world’s top players but there are substantial incentives built into an exhaustive 41-page contract, particularly if United qualify for the Champions League.
As Jose Mourinho’s side prepare to face Celta Vigo at home tomorrow for a place in the Europa League final, Pogba has good reason to want to win the trophy.
Failure to reach the Champions League could cost the club as much as £65 million in lost TV revenue and prize money. United would also forfeit more than £20 million of their £750 million kit deal with adidas.
More importantly, United’s latest financial figures due out next week are predicted to show record revenue of £540 million and profits of £180 million. Daily Mail