I can’t win the league with only 11 players
GLOOMY CONTE TURNS UP HEAT ON CHELSEA BOARD
CHELSEA boss Antonio Conte has turned up the heat on the club’s board to bring in reinforcements by warning it will be ‘impossible’ to navigate four competitions using only ‘11 or 13 players’.
Chelsea have already spent in excess of £120m this summer on Antonio Rudiger, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Alvaro Morata, but having lost John Terry and Nemanja Matic and with Diego Costa absent without leave, Conte is determined to bolster his squad.
Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo and director Marina Granovskaia now have six days to ensure the strife of this summer is left behind when the transfer window closes on Thursday. They are continuing to pursue deals for Arsenal’s Alex OxladeChamberlain, Leicester’s Danny Drinkwater and Everton’s Ross Barkley, while Southampton’s Cedric Soares remains an option.
Conte, who benefited from the club’s absence from European competition last season, warned that signings are needed as September brings seven fixtures in four competitions.
Conte said: ‘ I hope after the international break to have the whole team. We play seven games in a month, and I need to rotate players. If someone is thinking that I can use only 11 players or 13 players, it’s impossible. Impossible. I have to rotate. We must be ready to face this situation.’
‘ We are trying to strengthen our squad and, if we are in the transfer market, that means we need to improve the squad.’
Conte once again seemed downcast compared to the upbeat character of last season. When asked by a reporter whether he is feeling ‘ grumpy’, Conte insisted he is more relaxed than this time last year.
He did not deny, however, that there has been tension behind the scenes despite signing a new two-year deal this summer.
‘It’s normal,’ Conte said. ‘ When you are at a great team, this is normal. In Italy, at a club like Juventus or Inter Milan, it’s the same.
‘Maybe this season will be tougher than last season for many reasons. We must be ready.’
Conte dropped his guard briefly, breaking into a smile as he admitted he only relaxed last season after winning the Premier League.
‘That was the best moment for me, to let myself relax. My medal is at home but honestly I don’t know where my wife put it. It’s beautiful if you see the past, but it’s important to try and write another story with Chelsea.’
Conte remained unforthcoming on the Diego Costa saga, with the player still at his family home in Brazil. ‘The same,’ Conte sighed. ‘No news. Personally, you know very well my position.’