Antonio Conte has been reported to leave Chelsea and go back to coaching the Italian national team according to the latest commissioner Roberto Fabbricini. The newly appointed commissioner hinted that his national compatriot wants a return to Italy and will be back to coaching his former national side.
Conte has not been having a very fruitful time at Chelsea off late and there are plenty of rumors floating around Stamford Bridge that the Italian could be sacked soon after a string of poor performances. Even the Italian manager has expressed his frustrations with the Chelsea board over transfer policies and has no control over the players that enter and exit the club.
Chelsea has not given Conte any power to sign the players that he wants and that has backfired this season with the former Juventus manager being disappointed over the transfers. And Conte himself may leave the club after stating that he wants to move back to Italy as his passion for coaching the national team is inexplicable.
Speaking to a press conference, the newly appointed Italian FA commissioner Fabbricini spoke about the different candidates that could replace Gian Piero Ventura, who was sacked after a shock elimination in the FIFA World Cup Play-Offs. A loss to Sweden in November confirmed that the Azzurri would not be able to play in the World Cup 2018 in Russia during the summer.
Roberto Mancini, a manager who won Manchester City their Premier League title in the most dramatic way ever, currently with Zenit St Petersburg, Carlo Ancelotti, who was recently sacked by Bayern Munich, and Nantes coach Claudio Ranieri, who led Leicester City to a Premier League title in 2015-16 are among the candidates along with Conte, who could be in in line for the big job.
Fabbricini said, “The names are the ones you know. Mancini was in Rome but we didn’t contact him, Conte seems eager to wear Azzurro again, Ancelotti opens and closes the door and Ranieri isn’t out either. There is no-one in pole position, we have to evaluate the pros and cons. We also have to evaluate the availability of the Federation, and explain to those who will come after us that there will be new governance.”
“Now though we will evaluate what to do, along with [sub-commissioner Alessandro] Costacurta.”, He added.
Antonio Conte has faced a difficult run with Chelsea in the past few weeks, an elimination from the League Cup semi-finals against London rivals Arsenal, followed by a 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League has almost ended his title defense as they languish third in the League.
The 48-year-old Italian was in charge of the national team during 2014-16 and took Italy to the quarter-finals of the Euro 2016 before taking charge of Chelsea and winning them the Premier League in the first season in charge of the club.
With the Blues in a big slump now, will the former Juventus manager leave the club or will the board get rid of him or will he continue managing Chelsea?
