Maybe he will stay at Chelsea after all
Every news story coming out of Chelsea recently has indicated that Antonio Conte will not stay beyond this season.
The first sign that his time at Stamford Bridge would be limited came when his title winning season was rewarded with a pay rise but not a contract extension.
Since then, Chelsea's form has dipped, some signings have not been instant successes and Conte has let it be known that he does not feel he has enough say in which players the club recruit.
The relationship between club and manager has grown more sour this season and with every disappointing result - losing at home to Bournemouth and away to Watford - the likelihood of Conte leaving has risen. Some reports even suggested he could walk before the end of the season. But that now seems unlikely, and he could even stay at the Bridge beyond this season.
When Conte left his post as Italy manager to join Chelsea, he was replaced by Gian Piero Ventura, but Ventura's unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaign led to his departure and Luigi Di Biagio is currently caretaker manager for the
Azzuri.
The possibility of a return to the national team for Conte has been floated but Conte's agent, Federico Pastorello has played down these claims. Speaking to
Rai Sport, he said: "Conte has already been through that experience and prefers to work with the squad on a daily basis."
"“I see him at Chelsea next year, as he has a contract valid for another season-and-a-half and doesn’t like to leave things unfinished.”
Conte too reiterated his commitment to Chelsea, telling reporters:
"I'm not thinking for one moment about the possibility to go away from this club.
"I repeat, my commitment is totally for this club and we are trying to do our best. But as you know very well that a lot of time – I don't agree – but a lot of time the manager or coach depends on the results.”
Pastorello's insistence that Conte prefers to work with a squad on a day to day basis, rather than experience the long breaks without contact with the players that international management creates, lines up well with Conte's character. His intense personality and the relentless training he puts his players through show why he is more suited to club management than international.
However, that does not mean he won't take up a club job elsewhere, even if his agent insists he has unfinished business at Stamford Bridge.
