Antonio Conte has angrily responded to speculation that Carlo Ancelotti is being lined up to take his job at Chelsea by insisting it’s ‘bull***t’.
Conte’s future at the club has been subject of debate since the summer and there has been a lot of talk in recent weeks over unrest in the camp.
Over the past week alone it has been suggested that players aren’t happy with his training methods and that some have been texting former assistant Steve Holland to complain.
Today former Chelsea boss Ancelotti has been mentioned as a possible successor, with it being suggested that the club have already been in touch.
But a clearly furious and defiant Conte hit back today saying: “I think around us there is a lot of bulls**t. If I see the past it happened the same with a lot of managers. A lot of bulls**t.
“They try to create problems between me, the club and the players. If someone is happy to continue to write this I think I answered very well in the past. I am answering very well about these different issues.
“I think this is a lack of respect. I can accept [if you] write that the club is ready to sack me, the story with the players [being unhappy].
“I don't care what the newspaper write about my future or the other person because this is our job. Carlo is my friend I have great respect for him and he was my coach in Juventus but he was sacked in the past...he knows very well the club.”
Conte revealed that Holland, who left Chelsea at the end of last season to become Gareth Southgate’s permanent assistant with England, had got in touch with him to deny that players had been in contact.
Conte added: “To put another person in this way, I think it’s incorrect. It’s not good that this person has to send me a message to tell me ‘I’m sorry, but this is not true. I’m sorry, if you want me to do an interview I’m ready’.
“Why put another person in this bulls**t? Why? If you want to hit me, hit me. Don’t put another person [in it] because this is incorrect and I hate this type of situation.”
Chelsea take on Bournemouth tomorrow sitting nine points behind leaders Manchester City in the table, having lost three matches already.
Conte also only agreed to a pay-rise in the summer rather than a contract extension, meaning his current deal will expire in 2019.
But Conte is clearly not too worried about being the subject of such scrutiny, saying: “This is work for me. From my experience for me as a player and coach in great teams, this is work for me. You don't know the pressure you can have when you are manager of your country during a World Cup or Euros. Not one person can know this situation.
“This is work for me but if someone is happy to write this and this news makes the newspaper more interesting, continue to do this but don't put another person [in this] because this is incorrect.”
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