Chelsea manager Conte laughs off sack talks following heavy betting on his imminent dismissal ahead of Leicester City’s visit to Stamford Bridge
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has experienced a mixed start to his first season in English football. Pic/getty images
Cobham (UK): Antonio Conte insists he has no reason to fear for his future at Chelsea after bookmakers suspended betting on the Italian being sacked. Conte has only been in charge at Stamford Bridge since July, but he had to answer questions about his job security following heavy betting on his imminent dismissal 24 hours earlier. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is notorious for acting quickly when he feels a manager is underachieving.
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Conte’s early struggles
But, although Chelsea have endured some difficult moments in the early stages of Conte’s reign, including consecutive defeats against Liverpool and Arsenal, it would be a bizarre move to axe the Italian after only nine games. Chelsea have made it clear they have no intention of wielding the axe and Conte was relaxed when quizzed ahead of today’s clash with champions Leicester.
“I take all this with a smile. I’m trying to find who bet the money!” Conte said. “I have good communication and a good relationship with the club. It’s very difficult to talk about the current situation. I’m focussed about my work. I’m focussed on improving Chelsea.”
After spending the majority of his managerial career with Italian clubs, whose owners are famous for hiring and firing, Conte isn’t fazed by his first taste of England's version of the sack race.
‘Pressure is part of the job’
“The pressure is the same. It’s normal to be under pressure, also for the players,” he said. “When you are in a club you want to win and do good work. The pressure is part of our job. It’s the same in other countries. We are working very hard to change the situation of the past, the whole of the last season. We are trying to bring something important for the present and the future.”
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