Chelsea hail ‘The Confather’ with title in their grasp

LONDON: How quickly affections can switch in soccer. Where once they would serenade coach Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge with an operatic f lourish, now Chelsea fans have fallen headlong for another man driving them inexorably to the Premier League title.

To the Br idg e fai thful , Mourinho’s “not special any more” now he’s pitched up at Manchester United but their embrace for coach Antonio Conte wil l be suffocating if he guides the Blues to a title- clinching victory at West Bromwich Albion on Friday.

As the arty canvas held by his daughter at Monday’s home victory over Middlesbrough put it, the Italian is now already enshrined as “The Confather” to a happy family of ruthless operators in blue.

No wonder. Albeit a quietly charming, thoughtful figure away from the pitch, on the touchline Conte comes across as a manic, hyperactive f igure making demands of his players that they dare not refuse. Win this game or else, his eyes scream.

So don’t expect him to stop now. Conte has spent his time since the 3- 0 drubbing of Middlesbrough trotting out his familiarly cautious mantra about hard work, fight and commitment still being needed to finish their efficient job.

Just a “little step”, he warned softly, but “one that won’t be easy”.

He hailed West Brom as “a really good, physical team” but, of late, the truth is that Tony Pulis’ eighthplaced side have looked anything but, having lost four of their last five games.

If Chelsea win, they will have an unassailable 10- point lead over Tottenham Hotspur and will become English champions for a sixth time.

A defeat or draw, though, would still leave Spurs the flimsiest of lifelines as they prepare for an emotional afternoon at White Hart Lane on Sunday against Manchester United, fittingly i l lustrious visitors for the last match to be played at the Lilywhites’ 118-year- old stadium. — Reuters