PREMIER LEAGUE CONTE’S WARNING
Memo to Hazard: Juve boss killed me when I spoke out! Hughton’s the first black manager of month in 25 years
ANTONIO CONTE hinted his Chelsea stars may regret criticism of his tactics by saying he was ‘killed’ for slamming his Juventus coach during his playing days. Conte has faced severe criticism from fans and pundits over the last week for the way he set up his side against Manchester City in their 1-0 defeat.
Following that loss, Eden Hazard raised eyebrows by saying he could have played for ‘three hours’ and not touched the ball.
Conte refused to confirm whether he had spoken to the Belgian but did say he once regretted comments he made under his Juve boss Marcello Lippi.
‘I did this when I was a player,’ Conte said. ‘We played a game, a massive game against Parma when they were first and we were second. We won 3-1. After the game, there was an international break. During the break I did an interview. The journalists asked me if I was happy with the team and this important win. My stupid answer was, “We are winning, but I’m not happy because I’m not enjoying the role the coach decided to give me”.
‘When I came back to Turin, it was a meeting with Lippi and all the players, and he killed me. ‘He killed me in a bad way, not in a soft or kind way. In front of the players.
‘He told me it was a lack of respect for my team-mates, first of all, and then for him, the club and the fans. He killed me.
‘After training, the club called me. They killed me another time, gave me a big, big fine. And then, in the next game, I didn’t play. I was on the bench against Piacenza.’
Conte would say little about Hazard’s comments other than he preferred to speak with his players in person. ‘This is not my habit,’ he said. ‘I like to talk with the players face to face, or in meetings.
‘ The tactics were the same against Barcelona. Defensively, we were very good in both games. We conceded only two shots to Manchester City. This is very strange. Usually when you play against Manchester City they shoot about 20 or 25 times every game.
‘ The tactics were the same against Barcelona and against them I didn’t listen to anyone complaining. My decisions are always for the best of the team. This is my reply.’
CHRIS HUGHTON has become the first black coach to win the Premier League manager of the month award. The Brighton boss, 59, has helped steer the Seagulls away from the relegation zone in their debut season in the top flight by taking seven points from three games in February. The award, which has run for 25 years, began in the second season of the Premier League. A victory over West Ham was followed by a draw away to Stoke before an excellent month was rounded off with a dominant win over Swansea City.