Antonio Conte claims he is “different” to
Chelsea’s previous axed managers and has “zero” to worry about.
“See you soon,” he chuckled after completing his media duties, as if to emphasise the point.
That Conte felt the need to having already raised the subject of the sack unprompted and stated repeatedly why he is unconcerned told its own story, though.
Even when not asked about it, even when supremely confident in his position, the dreaded ‘s’ word remained an issue.
This is Chelsea, where the idea of the sack lingers like a bad smell and it is never more than a small poor run away from becoming an unavoidable stench.
And this is the effect Chelsea’s track record can have.
Their most successful boss, Jose Mourinho, was sacked twice by ruthless owner Roman Abramovich.
The first time a few months after completing a cup double the second a few months after winning the league.
Leading Chelsea to a record-breaking first ever league and cup double earned Carlo Ancelotti just one more year in charge.
Roberto Di Matteo lasted just six months more after leading Chelsea to the Holy Grail of their first ever Champions League in 2012.
Trophies guarantee very little in terms of extra time at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s latest title triumph is also not yet a distant memory but it was impossible not to fear for Conte with two thirds of this thriller against Watford gone.
The champions were 2-1 down, all at sea and had been out-played and out-fought by Marco Silva’s impressive and unfazed men.
Goals from Abdoulaye Doucoure and Roberto Pereyra either side of half-time wiped out Pedro’s stunning, albeit scored from a wrongly-awarded corner.
The three-goal, last 20 minute fightback Chelsea produced was testament to the Blues’ big display of cojones against Troy Deeney’s Watford as their quality and Conte’s game changing subs.
Michy Batshuayi came off the bench to score twice and in between another sub, Willian, set up Cesar Azpilicueta’s header to make it 3-2.
But there was still plenty to still worry the Blues hierarchy here and it felt like little more than a win to keep the wolves at bay.
Not that Conte was overly concerned as he was keen to stress.
When asked about the show of character he got from his players which other Chelsea managers might not have got in similar uncertain times, he chose to make his point.
“I am not like the previous managers. I am different,” he said. “It is important to understand this.
The club has to judge the work and honestly, I don’t have this type of worry, about if I lose the game, if the club decides to sack me.
“Why am I different? Only because in the past, the club decided after two losses or three bad games to sack a manager. I don’t think it is the same for every manager.
“You change the person, change the work. I repeat. If you ask if I feel this type of pressure about the club, it is zero.
“Honestly. I am not worried. I am very honest. Anyone who knows me well knows this is the last thought in my mind. My last worry.
“I trust in my work. I give all myself with my work and with my players. I don’t feel this type of pressure.
I repeat. I feel the pressure to give a certain satisfaction to my players, to give satisfaction to my fans and to give satisfaction to the club.
“This is the type of pressure. But as for the other pressure I do not feel.”
Source : The Mirror.
No comments:
Post a Comment