The Irish Mail on Sunday

Conte’s just like Trap, he doesn’t really care about players

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IT should come as no great surprise that Antonio Conte does not want to be his players’ best friend. Those of us who played under Giovanni Trapattoni for Ireland will be familiar with a manager who is more interested in results and performanc­es than players and personalit­ies.

Just like my former Ireland boss, and Italian coaches Roberto Mancini and Fabio Capello with Manchester City and England, the Chelsea manager is not going to spend much time worrying about their state of mind.

He is very functional, he works on the team on the training ground and as soon as one game is finished, he is concentrat­ing on the next one.

So forget all the high-fives, back-slapping and celebratio­ns on the pitch at the end of games last season. That is Conte in gamemode, still focused on winning, not trying to be his players’ best pal.

He may savour the victory on the pitch, but as soon as he gets back into the dressing room, he will be concerned about the next match, which is the only way to be when they come thick and fast in the Premier League.

You can see from his demeanour and behaviour on the touchline how much winning a game means to him and how he is totally absorbed in that.

And I prefer that. I didn’t need my manager to tell me how good I was every day, or even every other month for that matter, although I realise some players are different.

Diego Costa obviously feels that Conte’s man management style, and keeping his players at arms’ length, is not to his liking. And he might not be the only one in the Chelsea camp. It still seems ridiculous that the manager who won the Premier League in his first season is under pressure, and apparently the early favourite for the sack after just one game. But this is Chelsea. You can see it happening.

They are not bothered about Conte’s reputation and how he turned them round last season from midtable under-achievers under Jose Mourinho to the Premier League champions. As they have shown with Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Di Matteo, in the past, they are not afraid to sack their manager when they have won trophies.

And Conte has been complainin­g quite a lot. He is unhappy about funds, selling Nemanja Matic to one of their main rivals and his team’s performanc­e against Burnley after Gary Cahill was sent off. Something is not right.

No one could have expected Chelsea to capitulate at home to Burnley on the opening day of the new season. But throughout pre-season there has been an uneasy feeling about the Premier League champions and Conte in particular.

I am no body language expert and I know you can read too much into a manager’s demeanour in his press conference­s and the things he says, or even doesn’t say.

B UT I have been in that situation enough times, and sat beside plenty of managers in press conference­s, seen how they behave and react to certain questions, to know that Conte is not happy.

During the close season, he looked uneasy at times, particular­ly when he has been asked certain questions about his squad, the summer transfers and Costa’s situation. The future surroundin­g the Spain striker has not helped Chelsea and to go into that opening fixture against Burnley without him, and Eden Hazard, was always going to be difficult.

Hazard can provide that bit of magic to change a game when it is going against his side, which is an ability very few players have. And they are bound to miss Costa, who is still the best striker in the Premier League, but it is clear he is not really happy in London.

He may have a real affinity with the club and most of his teammates, and he may be paid up to £200,000 a week by Chelsea (you might think that means he owes them some loyalty) but if you are not happy, you are not happy.

It will take time for Alvaro Morata to properly replace him. The Spanish striker looked electric when he came on against Burnley, he scored and caused problems, but he is a different type of player to Costa.

You would imagine Morata is going to start against Tottenham today, and for most of the rest of the season. Michy Batshuayi has potential but compare his hold-up play, excitement, experience and sheer devilment to Costa, and he is a long way short.

Conte’s body language may be down to the fact he knows he is still two or three short of having a squad which can effectivel­y defend their title, but Spurs have not kicked on like they should have over the summer.

The €40 million club record signing of Ajax centre back Davinson Sanchez is imminent, subject to a medical and work permit, and while Mauricio Pochettino may be frustrated he is hiding it well compared to Conte.

It helps that his team made such a positive start to the new campaign at Newcastle, although the test for Spurs this season is going to come at Wembley, and how they can handle that move to the stadium.

Last season they were unbeaten at White Hart Lane, whereas they couldn’t win when the European games were moved to Wembley. It is something they will have to overcome this season. For so many of the players, this could be their only chance to play there so of course they will raise their game and want to make the best of the opportunit­y. It is a huge motivation­al factor for Spurs’ opponents. Still, I honestly think if Pochettino’s players can cope with that, and get a run together at Wembley quickly, they will be competing for the title again.

 ??  ?? HAPPIER TIMES: Conte and Diego Costa
HAPPIER TIMES: Conte and Diego Costa

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