BLUES DUO SILENT ON THEIR FUTURES
EDEN HAZARD and Antonio Conte refused to discuss their futures at Chelsea amid the celebrations that followed their FA Cup final win over Manchester United last night. Speculation is growing that yesterday’s win was Conte’s last game in charge, while match winner Hazard, who is being chased by Real Madrid and Paris SaintGermain, did nothing to allay fears that he, too, will be on his way.
‘We don’t talk about next season, we talk about holiday and the World Cup,’ said Hazard, whose 22nd-minute spot-kick was enough to ensure old boss Jose Mourinho suffered a trophyless season at Manchester United.
‘It’s a great feeling today. We lost the final last year, we didn’t play a Referee: good season this year but we finished well. I’m just happy for the boys, for the fans, it’s a great feeling.
‘Of course we wanted to finish the season with a trophy. We couldn’t finish in the top four, we don’t have Champions League next season but at least we have something to celebrate this season.’
Conte, adding the FA Cup to the Premier League he won in his first season in charge last year, said: ‘I must be honest, I don’t know (about the future).
‘I’m committed to this club and have a contract but our job is not simple. When you are manager of a great team expectation is very high. This year we did our best but it 87,647 wasn’t good enough to get in the Champions League.
‘I have great respect for my club. For sure we’ll make the best decision. After these two seasons, I will always love this colour, these fans, this club. Even if my future must be in a different way.’
Counterpart Mourinho, whose side couldn’t break down a stubborn Chelsea defence in the second half, said he would have been criticised if he had adopted similar tactics.
‘I congratulate them because they won but they didn’t deserve to win,’ he claimed. ‘If my team plays like Chelsea did, I can imagine what people would say.
‘The image of the game is David de Gea did not touch the ball. He touched the ball to grab it in the net.’