It’s a sense of deja vu for Chelsea supporters as yet another manager sends cryptic and, at times, clear messages that there are problems at the club. Antonio Conte has not looked a happy figure throughout this entire campaign despite the Italian leading his team to the Premier League title during his first season in charge last term.
After the Blues suffered a surprise 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Bournemouth on Wednesday night, Conte was insistent that he is doing a “great job”. Added with that, he felt that the last 24 hours at the club were a “disaster” despite the club’s hierarchy adding Arsenal striker Oliver Giroud and Roma defender Emerson Palmieri to their squad – welcome to the club boys.
It’s quite clear that Conte is not seeing eye to eye with those in the Chelsea boardroom and the former Juventus man should rightly be aggrieved. When it comes to transfers, Conte is clearly not having the final say on who should come in or who should go out. Therefore, it is understandable to see Conte annoyed, frustrated and angry at the club.
Throughout this season Conte has had a war of words with Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, the Italian even admitted that things had become “personal” between the two. However, Conte should follow the same path as his managerial counterpart and stand his ground at the club. Mourinho had his own problems at Stamford Bridge but he wasn’t shy to remind those in the boardroom that he is the “best manager” the club has ever had.
Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich’s quiet yet ruthless manner in running the club has worked because it has forged out numerous Premier League titles, FA Cups, League Cups and the Champions League. But high-quality managers such as Conte should not be pushed aside time and time again after they have delivered success to the club.
Many believe that Conte will not be Chelsea manager next season but it won’t be a surprise to see him out of a job by the end of this month. They may still be in the FA Cup, and most importantly, the Champions League by then but that has not stopped the club’s owner from sacking a manager before – circa 2012 under Andre Villas-Boas and Roberto Di Matteo