Why Conte was sacked
THREE REASONS WHY INTENSE ITALIAN WAS SHOWN THE DOOR
Despite winning the FA Cup final against Manchester United in his last match in charge of Chelsea, Antonio Conte’s sacking yesterday was the inevitable result of a stormy season at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea finished fifth – 30 points behind champions Manchester City – just 12 months after winning the title and their failure to qualify for the Champions League sealed Conte’s fate.
Here we look at three reasons the Italian only lasted two seasons with the Blues:
Costa meltdown
The champagne corks had barely finished popping at the end of Chelsea’s title celebrations in May before Conte bizarrely lost his cool with Costa.
Conte felt winning the league should allow him much more say in who came and went – and first in his sights was notorious malcontent Diego Costa.
Infuriated by Costa’s mood swings and an attempt to engineer a move, Conte decided to sell him even though his goals had been instrumental in the title success.
But he hadn’t reckoned on Costa going public with a text message from Conte telling him he was no longer in his plans, a move that prompted the Chelsea boss to exile his forward from the squad.
The situation quickly disintegrated as Costa refused to train with the reserves.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was said to be furious and, although Costa eventually got his wish to join Atletico Madrid, the die had been cast.
The breakdown in relations manifested itself in Conte dragging out negotiations over a new contract and when he eventually signed the improved terms, tellingly it didn’t include an extension.
Transfer wars
Already grumbling about his lack of influence over transfers and complaining that Chelsea weren’t spending as much as their rivals, Conte was livid when Abramovich sanctioned Nemanja Matic’s move to Manchester United before the start of the season.
It didn’t help that technical director Michael Emenalo left the club, leaving Marina Granovskaia, a close Abramovich aide, in charge of transfer deals.
Conte’s main complaint was Chelsea had failed to land his top targets, with Romelu Lukaku moving to United instead, and Juventus defender Alex Sandro also proving untouchable.
Yet Chelsea still spent over £120 million on Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Antonio Rudiger, Davide Zappacosta and Danny Drinkwater.
It didn’t help Conte’s mood that the players largely under-performed, with Rudiger the lone useful recruit.
Morata’s failure to adequately replace Costa as the fulcrum of the attack was a huge blow that left them lacking a cutting edge.
Unaccustomed to being questioned so openly, Abramovich is believed to have been vexed by Conte’s belligerent attitude.
Personality clashes
Engaging in a petty feud with United manager Jose Mourinho only added to the perception that Conte was unravelling as Chelsea failed to keep pace with City.
Angered by some typically acerbic jibes from Mourinho, Conte gave a stinging response, branding his rival a “little man”.
But the 48-year-old’s hardline stance wasn’t limited to mischievous opponents.
The season was only a few weeks old when Conte’s players were reported to be chafing at his demanding training sessions and intense personality.
Well aware that he was unlikely to return, Conte went out with a bang after the FA Cup final, taking the chance to remind Abramovich what he would be missing when the axe fell.
“After two years, the club knows me very well. I can’t change,” he said.
“I think in a difficult season like this, I showed I’m a serial winner.” – AFP