Conte fights to avoid sophomore slump
london — Fuelled by the personal intensity that inspired Chelsea’s return to the top, Antonio Conte has vowed to stop the champions becoming the latest victims of the Premier League’s sophomore slump.
A glance at recent Premier League history has provided all the motivation Conte requires as the Chelsea manager plots his team’s title defence, which gets under way against Burnley on Saturday.
The last two English champions both sacked their manager in the midst of title hangovers the following season, with Jose Mourinho axed by Chelsea in 2015 and Claudio Ranieri ousted by Leicester City last term. Warning his players not to rest on their laurels, Conte said: “We know the next season will be tough. Two coaches have been sacked from Chelsea and Leicester after winning the league and I want to avoid this.
“The players want to avoid the bad season they had with Mourinho. We are working very well and we hope to find the best solution.”
Conte’s concerns have been exacerbated by a close season Win for arsenal against Chelsea in the season opener that has been far from plain sailing, despite his family vacation to soak up the Sardinian sun on a plush yacht last month.
Since being drenched in champagne by his jubilant players at the climax of their title-winning campaign, Conte has become embroiled in disputes with his employers over a new contract and transfer issues.
He was also drawn into a damaging feud with Diego Costa after telling the striker via a blunt text message that he was no longer in his plans. Costa embarrassed Conte by making the message public, in the process making it much harder for Chelsea to demand a hefty fee for the forward, who remained exiled from the squad throughout pre-season.—
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