Conte insists Chelsea have found their level in Cup
Antonio Conte appeared to direct more thinly veiled criticism at Chelsea’s hierarchy when he claimed his team had found their level by being in a position where the FA Cup is the only trophy they can win this season.
Chelsea take on Leicester in a quarter-final tie at the King Power Stadium this afternoon and Conte has indicated he will pick his strongest possible side as he looks for an immediate response to being eliminated from the Champions League by Barcelona in midweek. The FA Cup has taken on particular importance for the Italian given his side also languish 25 points behind Manchester City in the Premier League and stand no chance of retaining their status as champions.
That is a deeply frustrating situation for Conte to find himself in, as he made clear when asked to assess the importance of winning the FA Cup. “A lot of times we compare good season, bad season, if you win something. You have to know which is our level now,” he said. “Last season we did a fantastic job. Also in this season we are doing a fantastic job. But you have to understand which is your position in this moment, which is your level.”
Asked to explain what he meant by “our level”, Conte went on to claim that by winning the title last season, his players overachieved: “They performed 120 per cent, maybe 130 per cent.” This is not the first time he has done this during the current campaign and once again the inference was clear: the manager does not believe he has a squad capable of consistently winning major honours.
Conte has made no secret of his displeasure with the club’s transfer dealings during the summer, leading to a severely strained relationship with Chelsea’s board and the widely held expectation that the 48-year-old will leave at the end of the season with 12 months of his £9m-a-year contract unfulfilled. Should that prove the case, Conte will no doubt want to sign off at Stamford Bridge with one more trophy to his name, although he was quick to insist winning the FA Cup would mean little to him on a personal level.
“It’s not important if I add another trophy in my career. For me the most important thing is to work hard, to try to improve the club and the players,” he said. “I’m very satisfied for my job, for the work we’re doing. Me, the staff, my players. We’re doing a fantastic job, also in this season.”
On a somewhat lighter note Conte was asked for his views on Lionel Messi having watched the player score twice against Chelsea at the Camp Nou on Wednesday and, in the immediate aftermath of the 3-0 defeat, describe him as a “super, super, super top player”. Did Conte feel there were any players in England who compared with the Argentinian?
“Don’t joke,” he replied. “Not only in England but in history. Maybe only Maradona and Pelé [compare with Messi]. Players that can change the final result.
“I marked Maradona when I played with Lecce. We lost 3-2 and I scored one goal. It was very difficult to mark him. When you played against these players, you had to mark man-to-man.
“Before, football was totally different. Now you must be strong, fast, prepared physically. Talent is not enough to be a modern player.”
Roy Keane puts Eden Hazard in his place after he fails in his latest battle with Lionel Messi Kevin Palmer 16 March 2018 Roy Keane believes Chelsea talisman Eden Hazard cannot be compared to the best players in the game, after his latest disappointing performance against Barcelona at the Nou Camp on Wednesday night. Hazard …
Chelsea players fear Conte tactics will hasten Hazard departure Matt Law 6 March 2018 Chelsea players are worried that the safety-first tactics of head coach Antonio Conte could persuade Eden Hazard to leave. The club are prepared to pay Hazard more than £300,000 (€337,000) a week to extend his contract past 2020 and ignore interest …
After Hazard’s complaints Conte recalls his own clash with the boss The Italian was rebuked, fined and dropped by Juventus for questioning his then boss Marcello Lippi. By Matt McGeehan, Press Association Sport 9 March 2018 Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte knows from personal experience the cost of showing dissent towards a manager. Chelsea were …
Conte insists Chelsea have found their level in Cup
Conte insists Chelsea have found their level in Cup
Antonio Conte appeared to direct more thinly veiled criticism at Chelsea’s hierarchy when he claimed his team had found their level by being in a position where the FA Cup is the only trophy they can win this season.
Chelsea take on Leicester in a quarter-final tie at the King Power Stadium this afternoon and Conte has indicated he will pick his strongest possible side as he looks for an immediate response to being eliminated from the Champions League by Barcelona in midweek. The FA Cup has taken on particular importance for the Italian given his side also languish 25 points behind Manchester City in the Premier League and stand no chance of retaining their status as champions.
That is a deeply frustrating situation for Conte to find himself in, as he made clear when asked to assess the importance of winning the FA Cup. “A lot of times we compare good season, bad season, if you win something. You have to know which is our level now,” he said. “Last season we did a fantastic job. Also in this season we are doing a fantastic job. But you have to understand which is your position in this moment, which is your level.”
Asked to explain what he meant by “our level”, Conte went on to claim that by winning the title last season, his players overachieved: “They performed 120 per cent, maybe 130 per cent.” This is not the first time he has done this during the current campaign and once again the inference was clear: the manager does not believe he has a squad capable of consistently winning major honours.
Conte has made no secret of his displeasure with the club’s transfer dealings during the summer, leading to a severely strained relationship with Chelsea’s board and the widely held expectation that the 48-year-old will leave at the end of the season with 12 months of his £9m-a-year contract unfulfilled. Should that prove the case, Conte will no doubt want to sign off at Stamford Bridge with one more trophy to his name, although he was quick to insist winning the FA Cup would mean little to him on a personal level.
“It’s not important if I add another trophy in my career. For me the most important thing is to work hard, to try to improve the club and the players,” he said. “I’m very satisfied for my job, for the work we’re doing. Me, the staff, my players. We’re doing a fantastic job, also in this season.”
On a somewhat lighter note Conte was asked for his views on Lionel Messi having watched the player score twice against Chelsea at the Camp Nou on Wednesday and, in the immediate aftermath of the 3-0 defeat, describe him as a “super, super, super top player”. Did Conte feel there were any players in England who compared with the Argentinian?
“Don’t joke,” he replied. “Not only in England but in history. Maybe only Maradona and Pelé [compare with Messi]. Players that can change the final result.
“I marked Maradona when I played with Lecce. We lost 3-2 and I scored one goal. It was very difficult to mark him. When you played against these players, you had to mark man-to-man.
“Before, football was totally different. Now you must be strong, fast, prepared physically. Talent is not enough to be a modern player.”
Observer
Source: Conte insists Chelsea have found their level in Cup
Share this:
Like this:
Related Posts
Roy Keane puts Eden Hazard in his place after he fails in his latest battle with Lionel Messi
Roy Keane puts Eden Hazard in his place after he fails in his latest battle with Lionel Messi Kevin Palmer 16 March 2018 Roy Keane believes Chelsea talisman Eden Hazard cannot be compared to the best players in the game, after his latest disappointing performance against Barcelona at the Nou Camp on Wednesday night. Hazard …
Share this:
Like this:
Chelsea squad are like ‘brothers’ and have no fear of Manchester City, says Victor Moses
Share this:
Like this:
Chelsea players fear Conte tactics will hasten Hazard departure
Chelsea players fear Conte tactics will hasten Hazard departure Matt Law 6 March 2018 Chelsea players are worried that the safety-first tactics of head coach Antonio Conte could persuade Eden Hazard to leave. The club are prepared to pay Hazard more than £300,000 (€337,000) a week to extend his contract past 2020 and ignore interest …
Share this:
Like this:
After Hazard’s complaints Conte recalls his own clash with the boss
After Hazard’s complaints Conte recalls his own clash with the boss The Italian was rebuked, fined and dropped by Juventus for questioning his then boss Marcello Lippi. By Matt McGeehan, Press Association Sport 9 March 2018 Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte knows from personal experience the cost of showing dissent towards a manager. Chelsea were …
Share this:
Like this: