Chelsea boss Antonio Conte: I am facing the most difficult season of my managerial career - 7M sport

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte: I am facing the most difficult season of my managerial career



Posted Saturday, August 05, 2017 by Express.co.uk

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte: I am facing the most difficult season of my managerial career
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte understands he has a huge challenge ahead of him

ANTONIO CONTE believes he is facing the most difficult season of his managerial career.

The Chelsea manager is worried that only four new players have arrived at Stamford Bridge this summer, although some £127million has been spent.

And last night the Italian appeared to be unhappy that midfielder Nemanja Matic was sold to rivals Manchester United this summer.

Conte has seen striker Alvaro Morata, defender Antonio Rudiger, midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko and reserve goalkeeper Willy Caballero arrive this summer. But the club missed out on Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, who signed for United and wing-back Danilo to Manchester City and others on his shopping list such as Juventus defender Alex Sandro have still not been landed – with the Premier League season just a week away.

Chelsea face Arsenal in the Community Shield at Wembley tomorrow and Conte has a worringly thin squad with which to defend the title he won last season, particularly with Champions League football also on the agenda.

Conte said: "For me this will be the most difficult season of my career as a coach. Why? For many reasons. It's very difficult. I have this perception and I hope I've made a mistake.

"This is the reality. At this moment, we have a small squad. Everyone can see the situation, not because the coach shouts, 'I want this', or, 'I want this'. The situation is very clear.

"We are trying to improve this situation. I don't know why enough players have not been signed. Everyone is trying to do their job but I think this question is for the club, not for me. We have to wait for the best solution.

"The best way for the coach and the players is not to think about this situation and to be focused, to work. To make an excuse is not the right way. My job is to work, improve my players, to create a team and an identity for my team.

"Am I a patient man? You are putting me in great difficulty with this question. In Italy people know I have not got great patience. But I am learning in England to be more patient.

"We must always have a dream, to try to be competitive and fight for the title. We must be ready and open for every situation, if players arrive to improve the squad, or if not.

"I don't want to look at other teams, if they strengthen or not. The best way for us is to look at ourselves, try to improve our team and continue to improve this mentality because we created a strong mentality in this team."

Diego Costa has played his last game for Chelsea after a massive fall-out with Conte and the striker is adamant he wants a move to Atletico Madrid.

Skipper John Terry has gone, as have Nathaniel Chalobah, Asmir Begovic and Nathan Ake – and numerous others, including other first-team squad members like Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Kurt Zuma, have departed on loan.

Midfielder Matic left for United in a £40m deal three weeks ago and, asked about it yesterday, Conte would only say: "You have to ask the club about this."

Conte, whose side won the title finishing 18 points ahead of Arsenal during the Premier League campaign but lost 2-1 at Wembley in May in the cup final, has major injury problems for tomorrow, with forward Pedro still out with facial injuries, Eden Hazard recovering from a broken ankle and new boy Bakayoko still not fit after ankle surgery.

Chelsea beat Arsenal 3-0 three weeks ago in a tour match in Beijing but since then have lost their last two warm-up games, to Bayern Munich and Inter Milan.

Conte said: "I do not feel under more pressure than last year. The pressure is always the same. If I don't feel pressure then I put myself under pressure, that's my life. The pressure helps me to give the best, 120 per cent."



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