Premier League: Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is a ‘dead man walking’
Blues players are ‘unhappy’ with Italian’s intense training schedule
Chelsea staff are reportedly calling manager Antonio Conte a “dead man walking” amid claims he is heading for the Stamford Bridge exit.
The Italian is understood to be at loggerheads with a “key executive” at the club - director Marina Granovskaia - and now his players are kicking up a fuss about his tough training regime, says Yahoo Sport.
After winning the Premier League title in his first season at the club, the second campaign has not started well for Conte. Following successive league defeats against Manchester City and Crystal Palace, the Blues also had to settle for a 3-3 draw against Roma in the Champions League this week, despite having claimed a two-goal lead.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Yahoo’s Duncan Castles reports that the 48-year-old manager has already decided to leave the Bridge at the end of the season - assuming he isn’t sacked first. If he is fired, Conte will be the fourth Premier League title-winning boss to be let go by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
According to the The Times, Conte has been upsetting his players as well as the club’s board. There are fears that his intense training sessions, and the heavy workloads he inflicts, are “hampering their title defence” and “exacerbating the club’s injury problems”.
Last season’s successful training schedule has continued this campaign, but the difference is that Chelsea are also playing European football again this year.
With a huge “emphasis on physically demanding sessions, lots of tactical meetings and very few days off”, says The Times, several players have “privately complained of fatigue”.
Chelsea are currently fifth in the Premier League, nine points behind leaders Man City, and host Watford tomorrow in the early kick-off. The Hornets are two points ahead of Chelsea in fourth place, and another bad result would pile even more pressure on Conte.
Premier League fixtures
Tonight’s fixture
- West Ham United vs. Brighton and Hove Albion (8pm, live on Sky Sports)
Tomorrow’s fixtures (3pm unless stated)
Sunday’s fixtures
- Everton vs. Arsenal (1.30pm, live on Sky Sports)
- Tottenham Hotspur vs. Liverpool (4pm, live on Sky Sports)
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 23, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - qualifications, tax cuts, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Long summer days in Iceland's highlands
The Week Recommends While many parts of this volcanic island are barren, there is a 'desolate beauty' to be found in every corner
By The Week UK Published
-
The Democrats: time for wholesale reform?
Talking Point In the 'wreckage' of the election, the party must decide how to rebuild
By The Week UK Published
-
Thomas Tuchel to become next England football manager
Speed Read 'Divisive' German coach hopes to lead the men's team to victory
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?
Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
By The Week UK Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published