Conte will know his Chelsea fate in a fortnight
ANTONIO CONTE expects his Chelsea future to be decided in two weeks.
The likelihood of him seeing out the final year of his contract has been in doubt all season, and yesterday the Italian refused to say whether tonight’s clash with Huddersfield would be his final game at Stamford Bridge.
Conte, below, insists his focus is on the twin task of steering Chelsea into the top four and beating Manchester United in the FA Cup final.
But he then expects the debate surrounding his future to be sorted quickly.
“I’m sure that I’m Chelsea’s coach and my focus is only on this,” said Conte. “It is very difficult to comment on any speculation because there has been speculation around me from the start of the season after the first game against Burnley.
“And this speculation is not important for me because my focus is only to work in the best possible way with my players.
“There are only two weeks before this season finishes and you will know if there is a different situation.
“You may see me again next season and we start the speculation about my future again from the first game.
“But I am very focused on trying to finish the season in the best possible way. I try to transfer my will to my players and also because the fans deserve this.” Asked whether he would like the chance to lay down long-term foundations at a club, Conte said: “In this decision there are always two parties, not only one side, so I don’t know. “I like to work with my players, build something important, but in our job the final result it is very important – especially when you are at a great club like Chelsea.” Former Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, 23, is expected to keep his place after turning in one of his best displays of the season in Sunday’s 1-0 win over Liverpool. Conte said: “We are talking about a young player and this is his first season in this country. “To arrive and adapt yourself quickly in this league is not simple, to go into our idea of football. “He has the right characteristics. I trust in him and he played a good game against Liverpool.”