We will battle to protect Conte
THIBAUT COURTOIS has pledged Chelsea’s players will fight to keep manager Antonio Conte in his job – starting with tomorrow’s Carabao Cup match against Everton.
Chelsea’s Belgian goalkeeper has vowed that he and his team-mates will not allow what took place two years ago to Jose Mourinho to happen to the Italian.
Back then Mourinho who, just like Conte, had won the Premier League title the previous May, endured a torrid start to the 2015-16 campaign and, after several damaging defeats that autumn, was sacked just before Christmas.
Conte saw his team come back from 2-1 down to beat Watford 4-2 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, avoiding what could have been a third straight league defeat and real concern about his future.
But Chelsea’s players rallied for their manager and Courtois said: “We are ready to fight for the coach. I remember what happened two years ago under Jose Mourinho and things started to be said, there were stories about the dressing room without knowing what was happening.
“We are happy to show that we are ready to fight. We all know what would have happened [more debate over Conte’s future] if we had lost against Watford.
“There was a moment when we were 2-1 down, we were having difficulties and Watford could have made it 4-1. It was very important to come back to win.
“In 2015 under Mourinho we wanted to fight as well but the games didn’t turn out well for us, there was too much bad luck. Different things happened.
“But we are showing we want to fight now, firstly as a group of players. We want to win games. We don’t want to lose. We want to fight for ourselves too. It is important for us. Some of us remember what happened two years ago – and we don’t want the same thing to happen.” 8- 5-
Everton are winless in their last five games - defeats to Burnley and Arsenal in the Premier League and Lyon in the Europa League, and draws with Brighton domestically and Apollon Limassol on the continent.
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the scoreline in his last game in charge, at home to Arsenal on Sunday.
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Koeman’s winning percentage as Everton boss, with 24 victories from 58 games in charge. His side lost 20 and drew 14.
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Koeman is the third managerial departure in the Premier League this season, following Frank de Boer (Crystal Palace) and Craig Shakespeare (Leicester).
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clubs managed by Koeman in his career, with Everton his second Premier League job after Southampton.