IT WILL BE STUPID TO SACK ME – ANTONIO CONTE

Chelsea FC manager Antonio Conte believes it would be ‘stupid’ to sack him with the club chasing three cups.

The Italian gaffer appeared fed up with the rumours of his future and the continued silence from the club.

Conte wants backing or sacking. He was given signings the club wanted rather than his wishes but accepts it is part of football today. He is still the darling of most fans and wants nothing to add to the club’s success.

Conte also knows Chelsea has won trophies despite chopping and changing managers but won’t go without a fight. He wants trust. Which is sadly lacking from the club. He still has unfinished business saying: “In my opinion, you continue to work with a manager or coach not because of what he achieves in one season, but because you trust in him. Then you build something with him.

“But it doesn’t mean you have to win something, because that’s not simple. Not easy. Especially in England, it’s not simple.

“But in my vision, you can win but, at the same time, the club might not be happy to stay with you. For this reason, it’s right to send the coach away.

“At the same time, you can trust in a coach and his work and continue with him even if you don’t win, and try and build something important. There are two ways. There is a stupid way and an intelligent way.

“This is my opinion. At the same time, I have great respect for every opinion. If the club decides to send me away, I don’t know when, it’ll be because they’re not happy with my work.”

Conte still believes he has the backing of the dressing room, adding: “I don’t think talking about my future can affect the players. Otherwise, from the first game we lost against Burnley, this could have happened.

“My players are not used to it, but they are getting used to these rumours and speculation. But, for sure, I’m very happy. I’m very happy with the commitment of my players, and the behaviour of my players.

“The players show me every day they want to overcome this situation. This situation, I repeat, we are talking about a team that is fourth in the league, that is preparing to face the game against Barcelona.

“We are in the FA Cup competition, and we reached the semi-finals in the Carabao Cup. Yeah, I think we understand that, when you lose two games in a row, the situation is not simple. But, maybe, we are increasing the difficulty of this team.

“But we are not fighting relegation as many seem to think we are. There are a lot of rumours and speculation, despite what we are doing… we are keeping our expectations.

“I don’t think that anyone trusted us to win the title. If I remember back, there were two teams fighting for the title, both from Manchester. Also last season.

“We started behind (them). For this reason, there are too many speculations around this club, around me, around this team.

“I think that, maybe, you have to find a bit more balance. I understand that we have to live with this [smiles] pressure, and it’s okay for me. It’s okay for me and my players.”