Matt Laws take on where it went wrong between Chelsea and Conte
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/07/12/revealed-inside-story-antonio-contes-chelsea-downfall/
It was the 10 days last summer during which Chelsea could not get in touch with their head coach that the relationship between the club and Antonio Conte was terminally eradicated.
And there has been some sense of revenge about the way in which the Blues left Conte in the dark over his future after May’s FA Cup final success, even allowing him to return for the start of pre-season training on Monday.
There were few congratulations from on high after Conte’s team beat Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United at Wembley. Instead, there was largely silence that lasted until the inevitable was finally conveyed after he had taken training on Thursday.
Some sources still believe Conte was last year considering an offer from Inter Milan, when he did not pick up the telephone, return messages or respond to emails.
Whatever the exact reasons behind it, Conte’s disappearing act sent Chelsea into a state of panic and convinced them he wanted out. Peace talks were hastily arranged and a new contract was eventually signed as a reward for winning the Premier League title. But, tellingly, there was no extension.
Nobody could be sure Conte would not pull a similar trick again and Chelsea did not want to be liable for more than one year’s money if, as has transpired, they decided to sack the Italian.
It was not just Chelsea who had become suspicious, however, as Conte also lost faith in his employers during a summer in which he felt none of his main targets were signed.
Conte wanted Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez, Alex Sandro and Virgil van Dijk, but by the time Chelsea returned for pre-season on July 10 last year Lukaku had joined Manchester United instead and the Blues’ only outfield signing, Antonio Rudiger, was not ready to start training after playing in the Confederations Cup for Germany.
With a Premier League trophy to use as a bargaining chip against club policy, Conte felt empowered to take on his employers. He warned people their jobs were on the line and that they would see ‘the real Antonio Conte’ if he did not get what he wanted.
He is still rated as one of the best coaches the club has ever employed, but there is a feeling that Conte’s judgement became clouded at key points by an obsession to prove he was right.
There was bemusement from within the squad when he called a pre-season meeting to supposedly welcome Chelsea’s new signings and introduced Paolo Vanoli and Davide Mazzotta, who had joined his backroom staff.
For a short while nobody knew whether or not Conte was being serious, but it quickly became clear that he was underlining the fact there were no new players for him to show off.
Former technical director Michael Emenalo is believed to have been in the room for Conte’s joke that highlighted the gap that was already developing between the 48-year-old and his board.
Of course, one player who had not been part of the pre-season meeting was Diego Costa, who effectively went on strike in Brazil after being informed he was no longer part of Conte’s plans over text message.
That move went down spectacularly badly inside the Chelsea boardroom, as Conte had acted without their approval and had risked damaging Costa’s value.
The message was also forwarded throughout the Chelsea squad, who were astonished that the club’s top scorer in their title-winning campaign could be treated in such a way – even though he had been causing problems since rowing with Conte last January.
More difficulties with members of his squad surfaced during the season, as Conte dropped David Luiz after the Brazilian was perceived to have questioned his tactics during a stormy inquest in which Kenedy was given a dressing down for yawning.
Injuries contributed to his absence, but Luiz only played five times after the thrashing in Rome, which took place in October and Kenedy was loaned out to Newcastle United in January.
The 5-0 victory over Stoke City on December 31 meant that, despite all the angst, Chelsea finished 2017 in second place in the Premier League and still in all of the cup competitions.
But tensions boiled up again during a January transfer window in which Conte wanted the Blues to back him with bids for Sanchez and Sandro, both of whom he believed were available.
He had not spoken with anybody more senior than Emenalo, who left Chelsea in November, between August and December, and his requests were unsurprisingly ignored. In the end, he had to be content with Olivier Giroud, Emerson Palmieri and Ross Barkley.
Conte had nothing against Giroud, who proved to be a shrewd addition, or Emerson, but felt that, while United were pushing the boat out for Sanchez, Chelsea were trying to strengthen from the substitutes’ benches of Arsenal and Roma.
Once January passed and the transfer window had shut, Conte once again cut himself off from his employers and serious consideration was given to making a change after the embarrassing defeats to Bournemouth and Watford.
Rather than sack him mid-season and land themselves with a huge compensation bill, Chelsea decided to see if they and Conte could ride out the storm together.
But any hope of Champions League qualification was effectively eradicated by the successive defeats to Manchester United and City, when Conte’s tactics were widely condemned, along with his use of Eden Hazard as a false nine.
Hazard had been prepared to sacrifice himself for the supposed greater good up to that point, but sometime after the City loss the Belgian was pulled aside by Conte and had his commitment questioned.
Chelsea have desperately been trying to convince Hazard to sign a new £300,000-a-week contract, but word quickly got round that he was becoming annoyed by his head coach and it showed on the pitch.
More fall-outs were to follow, as Conte dropped Rudiger for giving a television interview in which he appeared to question the team’s approach and the former Juventus coach screamed at his squad that they were all “s***” during half-time in the Premier League victory over Southampton, in which Chelsea came back from two goals behind.
The FA Cup final success over United provided some consolation, but not even that could mask the disharmony in the background as Willian posted a picture on social media of the squad celebrating with carefully placed trophy emojis to hide Conte.
Luiz and Willian would have never played for Chelsea again while Conte was in in charge and there is every likelihood others would have been frozen out as well.
In his post-match press conference at Wembley, Conte repeated seven times ‘I can’t change’ which pretty much told Chelsea everything they needed to know and had Roman Abramovich reaching for the reset button once again - even if it took some time for him to press it.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/07/12/revealed-inside-story-antonio-contes-chelsea-downfall/
It was the 10 days last summer during which Chelsea could not get in touch with their head coach that the relationship between the club and Antonio Conte was terminally eradicated.
And there has been some sense of revenge about the way in which the Blues left Conte in the dark over his future after May’s FA Cup final success, even allowing him to return for the start of pre-season training on Monday.
There were few congratulations from on high after Conte’s team beat Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United at Wembley. Instead, there was largely silence that lasted until the inevitable was finally conveyed after he had taken training on Thursday.
Some sources still believe Conte was last year considering an offer from Inter Milan, when he did not pick up the telephone, return messages or respond to emails.
Whatever the exact reasons behind it, Conte’s disappearing act sent Chelsea into a state of panic and convinced them he wanted out. Peace talks were hastily arranged and a new contract was eventually signed as a reward for winning the Premier League title. But, tellingly, there was no extension.
Nobody could be sure Conte would not pull a similar trick again and Chelsea did not want to be liable for more than one year’s money if, as has transpired, they decided to sack the Italian.
It was not just Chelsea who had become suspicious, however, as Conte also lost faith in his employers during a summer in which he felt none of his main targets were signed.
Conte wanted Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez, Alex Sandro and Virgil van Dijk, but by the time Chelsea returned for pre-season on July 10 last year Lukaku had joined Manchester United instead and the Blues’ only outfield signing, Antonio Rudiger, was not ready to start training after playing in the Confederations Cup for Germany.
With a Premier League trophy to use as a bargaining chip against club policy, Conte felt empowered to take on his employers. He warned people their jobs were on the line and that they would see ‘the real Antonio Conte’ if he did not get what he wanted.
He is still rated as one of the best coaches the club has ever employed, but there is a feeling that Conte’s judgement became clouded at key points by an obsession to prove he was right.
There was bemusement from within the squad when he called a pre-season meeting to supposedly welcome Chelsea’s new signings and introduced Paolo Vanoli and Davide Mazzotta, who had joined his backroom staff.
For a short while nobody knew whether or not Conte was being serious, but it quickly became clear that he was underlining the fact there were no new players for him to show off.
Former technical director Michael Emenalo is believed to have been in the room for Conte’s joke that highlighted the gap that was already developing between the 48-year-old and his board.
Of course, one player who had not been part of the pre-season meeting was Diego Costa, who effectively went on strike in Brazil after being informed he was no longer part of Conte’s plans over text message.
That move went down spectacularly badly inside the Chelsea boardroom, as Conte had acted without their approval and had risked damaging Costa’s value.
The message was also forwarded throughout the Chelsea squad, who were astonished that the club’s top scorer in their title-winning campaign could be treated in such a way – even though he had been causing problems since rowing with Conte last January.
More difficulties with members of his squad surfaced during the season, as Conte dropped David Luiz after the Brazilian was perceived to have questioned his tactics during a stormy inquest in which Kenedy was given a dressing down for yawning.
Injuries contributed to his absence, but Luiz only played five times after the thrashing in Rome, which took place in October and Kenedy was loaned out to Newcastle United in January.
The 5-0 victory over Stoke City on December 31 meant that, despite all the angst, Chelsea finished 2017 in second place in the Premier League and still in all of the cup competitions.
But tensions boiled up again during a January transfer window in which Conte wanted the Blues to back him with bids for Sanchez and Sandro, both of whom he believed were available.
He had not spoken with anybody more senior than Emenalo, who left Chelsea in November, between August and December, and his requests were unsurprisingly ignored. In the end, he had to be content with Olivier Giroud, Emerson Palmieri and Ross Barkley.
Conte had nothing against Giroud, who proved to be a shrewd addition, or Emerson, but felt that, while United were pushing the boat out for Sanchez, Chelsea were trying to strengthen from the substitutes’ benches of Arsenal and Roma.
Once January passed and the transfer window had shut, Conte once again cut himself off from his employers and serious consideration was given to making a change after the embarrassing defeats to Bournemouth and Watford.
Rather than sack him mid-season and land themselves with a huge compensation bill, Chelsea decided to see if they and Conte could ride out the storm together.
But any hope of Champions League qualification was effectively eradicated by the successive defeats to Manchester United and City, when Conte’s tactics were widely condemned, along with his use of Eden Hazard as a false nine.
Hazard had been prepared to sacrifice himself for the supposed greater good up to that point, but sometime after the City loss the Belgian was pulled aside by Conte and had his commitment questioned.
Chelsea have desperately been trying to convince Hazard to sign a new £300,000-a-week contract, but word quickly got round that he was becoming annoyed by his head coach and it showed on the pitch.
More fall-outs were to follow, as Conte dropped Rudiger for giving a television interview in which he appeared to question the team’s approach and the former Juventus coach screamed at his squad that they were all “s***” during half-time in the Premier League victory over Southampton, in which Chelsea came back from two goals behind.
The FA Cup final success over United provided some consolation, but not even that could mask the disharmony in the background as Willian posted a picture on social media of the squad celebrating with carefully placed trophy emojis to hide Conte.
Luiz and Willian would have never played for Chelsea again while Conte was in in charge and there is every likelihood others would have been frozen out as well.
In his post-match press conference at Wembley, Conte repeated seven times ‘I can’t change’ which pretty much told Chelsea everything they needed to know and had Roman Abramovich reaching for the reset button once again - even if it took some time for him to press it.
Seri apparetly went to Fulham for around £25m. Supposedly willing to go up to around £20m for Zinchenko. Khan has a lot of money so he can afford it, but they're going in guns blazing.
By Auto Simeone Go To PostAubameyang and Torreira are world classPEA is going on 30, bruh.
Just you wait
By Perfect Blue Go To Postignore the english players and that's a pretty strong record
Players signed under Conte.
There was bemusement from within the squad when he called a pre-season meeting to supposedly welcome Chelsea’s new signings and introduced Paolo Vanoli and Davide Mazzotta, who had joined his backroom staff. For a short while nobody knew whether or not Conte was being serious, but it quickly became clear that he was underlining the fact there were no new players for him to show off.
lmao
By Laboured Go To PostI'm fucking cryingHe looks proper embarrassed about it as well.
By Laboured Go To PostI'm fucking crying
Only way this could be more embarrassing, is moving it to the pig n whistle
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/05/14/sport/beitar-trump-jerusalem-intl/index.html
and that's my new FM team settled
and that's my new FM team settled
By Laboured Go To PostI'm fucking cryingwhat a club
By Laboured Go To PostI'm fucking crying
By Wahabipapangus Go To Posthttps://edition.cnn.com/2018/05/14/sport/beitar-trump-jerusalem-intl/index.htmlI can't choose which one is worse.
and that's my new FM team settled
By Wahabipapangus Go To PostI like Giroud and think he will end up being a good part of Chelsea, but Luiz did so much to help win the league. He fixed that defense. Then yes he ended up being benched by Conte, but that one season was well worth it beyond anything Giroud has done yet.True. He was a wonderful "panic buy". I just like and miss Big Sexy.
Man, Kante has been on a rollercoaster since he came to England. Whew.
Wish we were interested back then. 😔
Well Valverde likes his workhorses in his boring ass 4-4-2 system. And there is no better workhorse than Kante in the world.
Would rather bid for Hazard tbh.
Would rather bid for Hazard tbh.
Think I’m ok with Ward being given a chance to be number 1.
Firstly because we really need the dickheads in the Kop and Main Stand to get behind the keeper, and being an academy lad will help that, and secondly because if we’re going to just have a stop gap keeper in any event whilst Klopp waits for his preferred target, then why bother spending money on one when we have one on the books already?
Edit:
Think after that it will just be Fekir/Fekir alternative and then we’ll be done.
Firstly because we really need the dickheads in the Kop and Main Stand to get behind the keeper, and being an academy lad will help that, and secondly because if we’re going to just have a stop gap keeper in any event whilst Klopp waits for his preferred target, then why bother spending money on one when we have one on the books already?
Edit:
Think after that it will just be Fekir/Fekir alternative and then we’ll be done.
By Laboured Go To PostDaily Mail think we're going for Maguire. I like him but he's no Toby.He's ok. We already have too many defenders that are useless in possession though. May not shit the bed quite as frequently as Smalling/Jones.
I'd like to see Lindelof given a chance. Looks rather decent playing for Sweden.
By Zabojnik Go To PostLiverpool will sign Alisson. They'd be insane not to.
I can tell you now with 100% certainty we aren’t signing a keeper in this window.
Interesting. A representative from Real Madrid met (or is meeting?) with Neymar's entourage in Sao Paulo apparently. Paris United is a very good source from past indications.
Mignolet was expected to leave this summer, but with Karius out of the picture and Ward inexperienced at Premier League level, he may choose to stay to see if a route back into the first team opens up. [Dave Maddock]⚰️
By Cleff Go To PostHe's ok. We already have too many defenders that are useless in possession though. May not shit the bed quite as frequently as Smalling/Jones.
I'd like to see Lindelof given a chance. Looks rather decent playing for Sweden.
Think he's miles better on the ball than Smalling and Jones. More on the level of Lindelof and Rojo (who I rate on the ball but they seem to fall short in other areas atm).
Maguire wins all the headers.
Give me Fellaini, Maguire, Mike , Pogba, Lukaku and Mandzukic on corners. This is the season of set plays.
AP44 on the corners.
Give me Fellaini, Maguire, Mike , Pogba, Lukaku and Mandzukic on corners. This is the season of set plays.
AP44 on the corners.
All change at Chelsea
Chelsea will pay manager Antonio Conte £9m in compensation after sacking the Italian to make way for Maurizio Sarri to take charge. (Mail)
Real Madrid are preparing a £150m bid to take Eden Hazard, 27, from Chelsea this summer. (Mail)
The Blues are battling with Paris St-Germain to sign AC Milan and Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci, 31. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian)
Chelsea have received a second bid from Barcelona for Brazilian winger Willian, 29, worth £60m. (Mail)
Tottenham are open to the prospect of selling 29-year-old defender Toby Alderweireld before the new Premier League season and will consider a deal with Manchester United. (Yahoo Sport)
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has now ruled out a move for a new goalkeeper this summer. (Mirror)
Manchester United target Gareth Bale, 28, will hold face-to-face talks with new Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui as he looks to clear up his future. (Sky Sports)
Jose Mourinho's side are also preparing a bid for Leicester's Harry Maguire, 25, but face having to pay £50m for the England centre-back. (Mail)
Eintracht Frankfurt would have to listen to offers for Ante Rebic, according to sporting director Fredi Bobic. The winger, 24, has been linked with Manchester United. (Sport 1 - via Metro)
Leicester City have turned to former Tottenham winger Iago Falque, 28, in their search for a new winger after the departure Riyad Mahrez. (Tutosport - via 90min)
West Ham target Felipe Anderson, 25, has flown into London as the Brazil midfielder nears a club record £50m move from Lazio. (Sun)
Tottenham look set to miss out on the signing of PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot as the 23-year-old is intent on signing for Barcelona. (Sport - via Football London)
Fulham have joined Wolves in trying to sign Manchester City's Ukraine wing-back Oleksandr Zinchenko, who could cost around £16m. (Telegraph)
Southampton will have to compete with Lazio for the signing of Atalanta striker Andrea Petagna, 23. (Calciomercato)
Crystal Palace are keen on West Ham winger Michail Antonio and are considering a £15m bid. (Sky Sports)
West Ham and Manchester United have expressed an interest in signing Sporting right-back Cristiano Piccini, 25. (Turkish Football)
Southampton are looking to loan out goalkeeper Fraser Forster, 30, after completing the signing of promising young keeper Angus Gunn, 22. (Daily Echo)
Everton are chasing Barcelona's Lucas Digne, 24, as well as his team-mate and fellow defender Yerry Mina, 23. (Mirror)
Everton defender Tyias Browning, 24, is seeking a loan move having spent last season with Sunderland. (Liverpool Echo)
Stoke City midfielder Badou Ndiaye has told the club that he wants to leave this summer to rejoin Galatasaray. (Milliyet - via 90min)
Burnley boss Sean Dyche says the club will break their transfer record again this summer. (Lancashire Telegraph)
Nottingham Forest are close to signing Jack Colback, 28, from Newcastle after the English midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan at the City Ground. (Northern Echo)
Chelsea will pay manager Antonio Conte £9m in compensation after sacking the Italian to make way for Maurizio Sarri to take charge. (Mail)We're in the wrong jobs, lads.
By Laboured Go To PostThink he's miles better on the ball than Smalling and Jones. More on the level of Lindelof and Rojo (who I rate on the ball but they seem to fall short in other areas atm).He carries it forward but doesn't do much with it when he stops. We really need Bailly to stay fit. Good on the ball and in his defensive duties. Still don't know what happened for him to lose Mourinho's trust.
By Perfect Blue Go To PostOn the event we do sell Hazard - who do we get to replace him? Any ideas?
Take a risk on someone young like Pulisic.
By Laboured Go To PostTake a risk on someone young like Pulisic.I know very little about him, tbh.
By Perfect Blue Go To PostI know very little about him, tbh.
Plays the same positions as Hazard and has a similar-ish style. Only 19. Wonderful player already and will definitely end up being sold for over £100 mill.
By Perfect Blue Go To PostI know very little about him, tbh.The white Freddy Adu
By Laboured Go To PostPlays the same positions as Hazard and has a similar-ish style. Only 19. Wonderful player already and will definitely end up being sold for over £100 mill.Imagine saying that about a USMNT player. But he’s got the goods for sure.
By Courage Go To Post@LFMartinsSorry for the late reply but I am off camping for the weekend and cell reception isn't great here.
what's the summary on the Podence transfer situation? is it about the grey area of the right to terminate his contract after the attack and move as a free agent?
by all means, I hope you fellas win this in court cause fuck Olympiacos; they're trying to pull something similar off with one of our players
The situation right now is the club is just waiting for Olympiakos to officially register the player, as soon as that happens a complaint similar to Patrício's complaint will be delivered to FIFA which will probably ask for the release clause + wages of the rest of the contract, 6 month ban for the player and 2 transfer windows ban for the club.
I have read Patrício's complaint and it makes some very strong points, said many times before but the lawyer behind it is a superstar that has been used by Messi, Neymar and was behind the Webster case.
The club has been very open to negotiating players since the interim president has taken over.
William is supposedly nearly closed with Betis for 17M€ upfront + 8M€ in objectives and 30% a future transfer, a far cry from the 35M rejected last year.
While there are some indications that Wolves are willing to do a deal to avoid the courts, Olympiakos seems to be set on leaving it to FIFA instead of reaching a deal with us.
I doubt FIFA would award Sporting the release clause, which is 60M€, but I can see a value between 10 to 20M€.
This will be messy and will probably take a while.
By Laboured Go To PostDaily Mail think we're going for Maguire. I like him but he's no Toby.
Incredible post ⚰️⚰️⚰️