I was Chelsea’s manager ever
Jose draws some flak from Conte
showed the fans still adored him and would never forget all the trophies he won while at Chelsea ANTONIO CONTE says he has never sent out a side to defend for 90 minutes – and that his teams always play to win.
The Chelsea manager, in a none too subtle dig at Jose Mourinho, has vowed that his teams have never and will never do what the Special One’s Manchester United did at Liverpool on Monday by stifling the life out of a game to grind out a goalless draw.
United, who visit Stamford Bridge tomorrow, had only one shot on target at Anfield, as Mourinho’s renowned skill at shutting down opponents was once again displayed.
“I have never sent out a team to play for a draw,” said Conte. “It’s right always to play for a win. I always try to transfer these thoughts to my players.
“If you play at home or away, it must be the same. You must start the game with only one target: to win. Not to play for a draw. I don’t like this. It’s not football.”
Mourinho returns to the ground where he won three league titles in two spells, but where he was sacked last December after a disastrous final six months in charge saw the club lie 16th in the table.
Some players were booed in Chelsea’s next game for their perceived role in getting Mourinho the sack but many fans had grown disillusioned with the acrimony that continually surrounded the club while he was in charge.
Conte added: “It’s important to win but it’s
BY JOE CRILLY
also important to win the right way, to put on a good performance for the fans, to show your work.
“It’s important to play good football, to play with good intensity, to show the will to win, the passion.”
Conte believes that Mourinho should get a good reception from Chelsea fans but that from the moment the game starts, the Portuguese and his team will be the enemy.
“We have a very tough game against a strong team, Manchester United. Not against Jose Mourinho,” said Conte.
“It’s normal in a situation when a coach comes back to a club where he had done a lot of positive things to talk about him. It’s right for him to have a good reception. Then, when the whistle sounds, it’s important to see United as an enemy.
“I haven’t talked about Jose to the players – for us, what is important is Manchester United.”
Conte will make a decision today on whether to bring Brazilian Willian back into the side after he missed the win over Leicester due to the death of his mother. Skipper John Terry is also fit after an ankle problem.
Conte is not worried about United trying to wind up volatile striker Diego Costa, who is one booking away from a ban.
He said: “It’s useless to speak with Diego. He knows the situation. Diego didn’t get a yellow card in the last two games. He played very well.” DO NOT be fooled by the glamour Premier League fixture this weekend. Tomorrow’s match between Chelsea and Manchester United is being billed as the big one but many marquee fixtures this season have been a little disappointing and I will be backing the draw.
Also tomorrow, you would expect Manchester City to make light work of Southampton. Manager Pep Guardiola will be fuming after the Barcelona result and victory in a game of three or more goals at 21-20 looks a decent bet.