Conte in driving seat as family move over

Antonio Conte has given Chelsea fans hope that he is not plotting his Stamford Bridge exit by confirming that his wife and daughter have now moved to England, and that he is driving them around the country on day trips.

As well as preparing for today’s Premier League trip to Crystal Palace, where striker Michy Batshuayi is set to start, Conte has been embracing family life again.

Despite leading Chelsea to the Premier League title during his first season in charge, Conte spoke on several occasions about how difficult life was with his family living in Italy. The fact he signed a new contract at Stamford Bridge without extending it only increased theo- ries that he could seek a return to Italy.

However, Conte said: “A situation I want to clarify is that my family stay with me here, not in Italy. Last season, honestly, I suffered a lot because when you arrive in a new

Leading the line: Michy Batshuayi is expected to start for Chelsea at Crystal Palace country and you are alone and know that your family don’t stay here, it is not simple. This season, I am very happy because they are with me and for us it is a fantastic experience.”

Conte is attempting to embrace life in England and claims he has had no problems with the roads since getting behind the wheel. “For me, it is easy to drive here. I just have to be focused and to stay on the left.”

Conte has a mini-injury crisis as Chelsea start a run of six games in October without Alvaro Morata, N’golo Kante and Danny Drinkwater. Batshuayi is set to replace Morata, who Conte hopes will be back for next week’s Champions League game against Roma, but Chelsea fear Kante will miss all of October with a hamstring injury.

Conte said that with Cesc Fabregas and Tiemoue Bakayoko as his only fit senior midfielders, he might move Andreas Christensen or David Luiz out of defence. The Brazilian is available after a three-game ban, during which time Christensen impressed in his place.