SHAKER

Conte’s going nowhere, but manager is playing a dangerous game by picking fights with the Stamford Bridge power brokers

IT WOULDN’T be Chelsea without at least some simmering tensions. But the club that does drama, intrigue and in-fighting better than anyone has no intention of losing Antonio Conte. Despite the frustrations conveyed to the Italian media by sources close to the combustible Italian this week, there is confidence at Stamford Bridge that he will lead the champions into their title defence next season. Conte, a man who routinely picked fights at his former club Juventus, appears to be testing the water in SW6. Having established in just one season his authority in the dressing room, he is said to want more control over transfers and a greater powerbase at the club. Two titles in the last three years, however, suggest Chelsea are more than justified in not wanting to disrupt the structure that has worked so well for them. Technical director Michael Emanalo and chief negotiator Marina Granovskaia have justified the faith shown in them by Roman Abramovich by bringing in the A-listers. As for claims that they are dragging their heels in the transfer market while the two Manchester clubs make hay, Chelsea did not sign a single player last summer until July 3. Look how well that worked out. New deals for Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard (right) have yet to be sorted but neither player wants to quit as they prepare for a return to the Champions League. So, much as they love Conte – and as much as Blues owner Abramovich supports him – the Blues will not be had over a barrel as they plan for next season. Chelsea always knew that Conte would reject the call of Inter Milan and their new Chinese owners, mainly because the Premier League is the place to be. But they have still placed a contract worth nearly £10million a year on the table, a contract which would make the Italian the highest-paid boss in their history. Conte’s decision to tell Diego Costa by text to find a new club – without consulting the club first – could be seen as another attempt to test whether Abramovich was as keen to back him as the Russian made out. Yet, with Costa (above, with Conte) set to be moved on, he still has the owner’s backing. Winning titles tends to guarantee that kind of faith in a manager. But if Abramovich could dispense with three-time champion Jose Mourinho and Double winner Carlo Ancelotti, Conte would do well not to push his luck too far.