Look at stats, managers get sacked here...
(AND THAT’S CONTE TALKING!)
ANTONIO CONTE says he is beginning to understand what it was like for Chelsea’s previous coaches who found themselves caught up in the club’s politics.
Sportsmail revealed earlier this month that the Chelsea manager will leave this summer, and it has been another week of discord between Conte and the board, with reports that he has stopped speaking directly to the club’s transfer supremo Marina Granovskaia.
The Italian himself added fuel to the fire following the Carabao Cup semi-final loss to Arsenal on Wednesday by claiming he has little say in any transfers.
Sportsmail can also reveal that friction has also developed between players and Conte over his decision to make the squad stay together at a hotel the night before certain training days.
Despite these difficulties, Conte insists he is not the first to go through this at Chelsea and that he is a ‘specialist’ in getting himself out of a tight spot.
‘If you look at the stats you can see that in 14 years 10 managers were sacked at this club,’ said Conte, whose side host Newcastle United in the FA Cup tomorrow.
‘But at the same time, when you are sure about your work and that you are doing everything to improve this club and to work this way with the players, I am very relaxed. Calm, very relaxed and I don’t have this type of worry.
‘I can tell that I continue to work very hard for this club, for the players, for our fans.
‘But I saw the history of this club. It was the same for the other coaches and I don’t see difference between them and me. Other coaches managed this situation. If I remember, at the start of the season I said maybe this will be the most difficult season for me.
‘I think that I have a great capacity to see very long (into the future). But we must be focused. We have to continue to do this and know we have to face great difficulties. If you know this you are more ready to face this type of situation.
‘I don’t stop. I try every day through hard work to overcome these difficulties. I am a specialist in this type of situation.’
Chelsea won the Premier League title last season but are now fighting to finish in the top four.
Asked if he feels the expectations are realistic, Conte explained: ‘I don’t know but when you start the season everyone has to try to dream.’
It is understood that one problem with players centres on away night games which are followed by training sessions the next morning. Conte asks his team to check in to the Woodlands Park Hotel, a mile from Chelsea’s training ground in Cobham, Surrey.
For example, when Chelsea flew back from November’s Champions League game at Roma in the early hours they stayed at the Woodlands.
But some players have expressed frustration that they are not able to return to family homes, with many of the squad living close to the training ground.
Pep Guardiola is also known to request his players stay at the Etihad Campus following trips back from long away matches — including after Tuesday’s Carabao Cup tie at Bristol City — but the Manchester City manager tends to let his players stay at home the night before travelling to such games on the day.
Conte on the other hand often wants his team together 24 hours before certain away fixtures, such as the FA Cup trip to Norwich when players checked into a local hotel on the Friday before the Saturday evening fixture.
Chelsea are not aware of complaints from players and back the manager’s authority in setting schedules and hotel bookings.