Being a boss is buddy difficult admits Conte
ANTONIO CONTE has revealed he has no friends among his fellow Premier League managers now that Claudio Ranieiri is no longer among his peers.
After a week of turmoil with Chelsea’s abject Champions League defeat against Roma on Tuesday, there are suggestions there is not a lot of love emanating from his dressing room either.
But Conte was perfectly candid about his relationship with the 19 other managers in the top flight.
“Do I have any friends? Honestly, I think not now, no,” he said. “Before, I had a really good relationship with Claudio Ranieri.
“But I think it’s very difficult to speak about ‘friendship’ with other coaches because then they become an opponent. You can have respect, but to speak about friendship is very difficult.”
Certainly there is little love lost with tomorrow’s opposite number Jose Mourinho, returning to Stamford Bridge for the first time since claiming he would always be the “No1” at Chelsea until somebody surpasses his tally of three league titles there.
Conte, though, was not about to be drawn into a bragging contest. “That the club can be happy, the fans can be happy and the players can be happy with your work,” he said. “Then, if you are No4, No5, No6, this is not important.
“The most important thing is to have respect from your club, your fans and your players.”
Unfortunately for Conte, after lifting the title just six months ago, that seems to be dissipating by the second.
Sources at the club are adamant that nothing should be read into Conte’s revelation that owner Roman Abramovich was down at the training ground on Sunday.
More significant, though, was the heart-to-heart on Thursday in which Conte read the riot act to his squad following their second-half performance in Rome.
“We are struggling a lot this season because we are facing a lot of important problems. And to solve these problems is not simple,” Conte said.
“At these moments, though, you can see if you are winners or losers. When the period is positive, it’s very simple for everyone to play well, to have great confidence.
“But in the times when you’re struggling, it’s important to show our character.”
They are opponents, not friends