Italy ready to swoop for Conte
Silva plea for referees to protect stars
BERNARDO Silva has accused referees of not protecting Manchester City’s stars from the hatchet men.
The Portugal midfielder believes the runaway Premier League leaders are being targeted by opponents and are not receiving enough help from officials who should be handing out more red cards.
Matt Phillips escaped with only a caution for an X-rated thigh-high challenge on youngster Brahim Diaz, 18, late in City’s 3-0 win over West Brom on Wednesday.
It was the latest in a series of brutal challenges on City players this season and came just four days after Cardiff’s Joe Bennett received only a yellow for a reckless tackle on Leroy Sane that damaged the German winger’s ankle ligaments and ruled him out of City’s quadruple challenge for two months.
When asked if he felt City were being targeted, Silva said: “Obviously. It’s clear if you look at the last few months.
“We have seen with Leroy – it was a terrible incident and now a very important player is ITALY are poised to give under-fire Antonio Conte an escape route out of Chelsea.
The Italian Football Federation last night appointed Roberto Fabbricini as new commissioner and former player Alessandro Costacurta as vice-commissioner. They named former boss Conte, Carlo Ancelotti, Claudio Ranieri and Roberto Mancini as candidates for the vacant national coach’s job, and will talk to all four soon.
Conte, above, is under pressure at Chelsea after arguments with the board over transfers, with Wednesday’s 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth casting real doubts over their chances of securing a top-four place.
Costacurta said: “Conte did a sporting miracle at the last European Championship. You have to evaluate these people.”