GREATNESS Conte: Blues’ philosophy is in the balance

judge that, I don’t judge that.

“My job is to do as good as possible and then we are judged by that on the other side of the fence. That is the situation.

“Are we ahead of schedule? I don’t know, I never thought about a schedule, that specific part.

“We have always tried to take the chance in the moment when we’ve had the chance and that’s it.

Chance

“But the Champions League final couldn’t be farther away from me at the moment so we don’t even have chance to celebrate a little bit inside and wake up in the morning and think life is good.

“Our life for the next seven days is the Premier League, a very important seven days to make the top four and then we can talk about all the rest in the right moment.” CHELSEA manager Antonio Conte and Napoli’s Maurizio Sarri could swap jobs. Conte is expected to leave this summer with Sarri, 59, on the Blues’ shortlist to replace him while Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis said he is ready to move for Conte if Sarri goes. De Laurentiis said: “Conte is a friend, I admire him a great deal. I am fond of Sarri and I don’t like divorces: but if he tells me again that he wants stars… we have stars, but cannot afford those from Manchester City or Real Madrid.” ANTONIO CONTE insists his brand of football is still very much in vogue, despite the blood-and-thunder styles of Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola taking all the plaudits this season. Klopp’s Liverpool were at their rock‘n’roll best as they beat Roma 7-6 on aggregate to book their place in the Champions League final. And Guardiola’s City have won admirers this season for the way they have poured forward and their attacking approach. Every time both sides have conceded this season the mentality has been that it wasn’t the end of the world because they’d always score more. Conte’s sides take a more cautious, balanced approach and the Italian is adamant there is still room for such a philosophy in the Premier League. As he prepared his side for today’s clash, Conte said: “There are many styles of football and not one style that can make you a winner. “Last season, Manchester City and Liverpool didn’t win. “In my experience as a player and a manager, it’s important to have the right balance, offensively and defensively. “That’s the best way to win something. “Then every coach is right to have his own best idea of football. I have great respect for all coaches, but it’s important to have the right balance.”

Many observers pointed to Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final result as further evidence that the art of defending is dead.

And it was put to Italian Conte, whose compatriots are famed for their play at the back, that the game was in complete contrast to the 2003 final between AC Milan and Juventus at Old Trafford, which ended 0-0 before Milan won on penalties.

Tactical

But Conte added: “It’s not true. If you remember in that era, we [Juventus] played three finals in a row.

“Not with a defensive and tactical approach. That’s impossible with Zinedine Zidane, Alessandro Del Piero, Filippo Inzaghi.

“For sure, everyone wants to put on the pitch their best technical players.

“But then you must have players who are very good at running, at winning the ball, at fighting to claim the ball, good at tackling, good at defending.”

Chelsea will need a good balance if they are to get a positive result today, with Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino sure to be a threat.

But the fact Liverpool concede goals means the Blues believe they can win the game and give their hopes of catching today’s opponents in the race to finish in the top four a real shot in the arm.

Conte said: “It’s very important to try to get three points to keep alive Champions League hope.”