CONTE’S ‘BETTER’ BLUES ARE EX RATED
Former boss Carlo says his fellow Italian has equipped Chelsea to be a force in CL
JUST weeks ago Carlo Ancelotti was warning Antonio Conte he could struggle next season, based on the strength of his Chelsea squad.
The Bayern Munich head coach was well placed to do so, having delivered the Premier League and FA Cup Double (below) for Blues owner Roman Abramovich in 2010, only to be sacked a year later for finishing second. His win percentage had been the third-highest in Premier League history, behind only Jose Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Italian is a man well versed in the pressures of living up to expectations at Stamford Bridge.
He now believes Conte (above) is in a far better position to do so, following the signings of Antonio Rudiger, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Alvaro Morata.
With more to come in the transfer market, confidence is rising at the Bridge, with some justification. So much so that Ancelotti smiled ruefully when asked whether his fellow Italian could follow the title with the Champions League next season. “I hope he doesn’t win the Champions League,” he joked. “I cannot wish him that! But Chelsea will be very competitive. “The team is better. Last year was a fantastic year for Chelsea and Antonio. He was able to change the mentality of the team and the style of play. “Everything was OK. For this reason they will be competitive in the Champions League. To win it? I don’t know. I hope not.” Conte’s response to being asked about how to prevent a secondseason disaster for yet another new manager at Chelsea was a predictable one. “I think the only
way that I know is to work.” he said. “Work really hard with my players to prepare the right way for next season.
“To play in the Champions League is great for us and right for the club. The players are enthusiastic.
“We have one competition more, but we are working very well to prepare the team in the right way, to find our feet as well as possible.
“We will put ourselves fully into these four competitions next season.” The Blues and Bayern will play each other here today in the International Champions Cup. The pre-season friendly will see Ancelotti come up against £58million Morata, 24, the man he managed at Real Madrid. His endorsement of the forward was emphatic. “A fantastic young striker,” he said. “Chelsea have a really good signing. A player who can help. “He’s a complete striker, he can play in different positions. He’s played central striker, sometimes on the side. He works well for the team also.” New Bayern signing James Rodriguez, one of the men with whom Morata shared the bench at Madrid, agreed: “He’s an amazing player with an amazing shot. He will do very well.”