ANTONIO CONTE expects his Chelsea future to be decided in two weeks’ time. Conte’s chances of seeing out the final year of his contrac...
ANTONIO CONTE expects his Chelsea future to be decided in two weeks’ time.
Conte’s chances of seeing out the final year of his contract have been questioned all season, and yesterday the Italian refused to say whether the clash with Huddersfield will be his final game at Stamford Bridge.
Conte insists his focus is trained on the twin tasks of steering Chelsea into the top four and beating Manchester United in the FA Cup final.
But he admits he then expects the debate surrounding his future to be quickly silenced.
“I’m sure that I am Chelsea’s coach and my focus is only on this,” he said.
“It is very difficult to comment on any speculations because there are speculations around me from the start of the season after the first game against Burnley.
“And this speculation is not important for me because my focus is only to work in the best possible way with my players.
“There are only two weeks and this season will finish and you will know if there is a different situation or if you see me again next season and we start again from the first game speculation about my future.
“But I am very focused on trying to finish the season in the best possible way and I try to transfer my will to my players and also because the fans deserve this.”
Asked whether he would like the chance to lay down long-term foundations at a club, he added: “In this decision there are always two parties, not only one side, and I don’t know.
“I like to work with my players, build something important, but in our job it is very important the final result – especially when you are in a great club like Chelsea.”
Midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko is expected to keep his place after turning in one of his best displays of the season in Sunday’s win against Liverpool.
Conte said: “We are talking about a young player, only 22 years old, and this is his first season in this country.
“To arrive and adapt yourself quickly in this league is not simple, to go into our idea of football.
“He has the right characteristics to play for Chelsea. I trust in him and he played a good game against Liverpool.”
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