Lodnon: Antonio Conte has claimed he has no interest in the vacant Italy job because of his desire to “respect” his contract at Chelsea. A face-value interpretation of that, of course, is that Conte intends to stay at Stamford Bridge for the remaining 18 months of his contract. Another, more informed one, is that maybe the Italian was making it perfectly clear that if he is to leave Chelsea at the end of this season — or before — then he will have to be sacked. He will not be resigning. Conte was reacting to comments by Alessandro Costacurta, the new vice-commissioner of the Italian football federation, that he intended to fly to London to “talk to Antonio Conte” about taking his old job back. Conte quit as Italy coach after Euro 2016 to move to Chelsea. Conte knew the subject would be raised and chose his words carefully and stated he would not be speaking to Costacurta. “I can tell [you] that Costacurta is a friend,” the former midfielder said. “We played together with the national team in 1994. But maybe he forgot that I still have 18 months of contract with Chelsea. My intention is to respect this contract.” Conte will know there is a rapidly growing expectation that he will leave before going into the final year of his three-year contract. “From the start of this season, there have been a lot of speculation and rumours around me,” Conte acknowledged. “My will is to stay here, continue my work. My only desire is to work and try and do my best for this team.”.- The Telegraph Group Limited, London 2018
Lodnon: Antonio Conte has claimed he has no interest in the vacant Italy job because of his desire to “respect” his contract at Chelsea. A face-value interpretation of that, of course, is that Conte intends to stay at Stamford Bridge for the remaining 18 months of his contract. Another, more informed one, is that maybe the Italian was making it perfectly clear that if he is to leave Chelsea at the end of this season — or before — then he will have to be sacked. He will not be resigning. Conte was reacting to comments by Alessandro Costacurta, the new vice-commissioner of the Italian football federation, that he intended to fly to London to “talk to Antonio Conte” about taking his old job back. Conte quit as Italy coach after Euro 2016 to move to Chelsea. Conte knew the subject would be raised and chose his words carefully and stated he would not be speaking to Costacurta. “I can tell [you] that Costacurta is a friend,” the former midfielder said. “We played together with the national team in 1994. But maybe he forgot that I still have 18 months of contract with Chelsea. My intention is to respect this contract.” Conte will know there is a rapidly growing expectation that he will leave before going into the final year of his three-year contract. “From the start of this season, there have been a lot of speculation and rumours around me,” Conte acknowledged. “My will is to stay here, continue my work. My only desire is to work and try and do my best for this team.”.- The Telegraph Group Limited, London 2018