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Ruud Gullit: Antonio Conte Could Save Chelsea Job By Beating Barcelona

Former Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit believes Antonio Conte has an opportunity of saving his job, should the Blues manager to knockout Barcelona from the Champions League. The Italian head coach has struggled to keep his side within Premier League contention this term, and a run of three defeats in four league games has increased speculation over his future.

Speaking to Omnisport, Gullit had a different perspective of the situation and cited that the 48-year-old could yet prolong his future at Stamford Bridge. According to the former Blues boss, Conte may need to concentrate on bagging a surprise win over Barcelona in the Champions League, which would enhance his reputation greatly among the Blues’ hierarchy.

Antonio Conte insists David Luiz is sidelined only because of injury

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has stressed that David Luiz’s exclusion from recent matchdays squads is solely because of his knee problem rather than the alleged bust-up, which is being talked about in the media. The Brazil international has featured in just a solitary Champions League game since he was axed from the matchday squad, prior to the Blues’ 1-0 win over Manchester United last month.

Speaking in the lead-up to the Southampton game, Conte insisted that he is saying the truth on Luiz’s injury, who is expected to be sidelined for an indefinite period with an inflammation in his knee, he said, “I understand that someone thinks I’m not telling the truth. I’m disappointed about this but I can understand it. I’d rather tell you a bad truth rather than a good lie.

Lampard looking at role back at Chelsea

Chelsea legend Frank Lampard has not ruled taking over the vacant technical director position at the club and also revealed that managing the current Premier League champions would be his ultimate job.

The former Blues midfield maestro is apparently a target of the club to replace Michael Emenalo after his shock departure from Stamford Bridge earlier this week.

CHELSEA TARGET DZEKO AND EMERSON

Chelsea FC are reportedly close to completing the signature of Emerson Palmieri from AS Roma. The left back is expected to join the club this January before the window closes. The Blues want a double player deal with Roma for the signature of Emerson and striker Edin Dzeko.

Sky Sports claim the talks for Emerson are advanced, with the 23-year old pleased with the terms of the deal. The Serie A club just needs to give their approval for the move to Stamford Bridge to go through.

Antonio Conte wants more patience with Eden Hazard

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is unsure whether Eden Hazard will start this weekend’s London derby against Arsenal.

The Belgium international came on for the final half an hour of the Blues’ 6-0 triumph over Qarabag in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Hazard has made two cameo appearances for Chelsea this month after making his injury comeback during the World Cup qualifiers for Belgium. While the attacker has insisted that he is up to full fitness, Conte has refused to take any risks with the Belgian crucial to the club’s progress across all competitions.

Speaking after the Qarabag win, he said: “We must have a bit of patience with him and to try to give the possibility for Eden to recover very well. We must be calm and to do the best for the player and for the team. Otherwise, we risk a bad injury to delay the situation. This is the right way. This process is good for him.”

Gary Neville: Chelsea triumph over Tottenham Hotspur shows players are backing Antonio Conte

Sky Sports expert Gary Neville believes Antonio Conte has the 100 percent backing from his players following Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur at the Wembley Stadium.

The Blues boss had cut a frustrated figure earlier this month following back-to-back defeats to Arsenal and Burnley in the Community Shield and the Premier League respectively.

Following last weekend’s 3-2 loss to Burnley, the odds were against Chelsea to win at Wembley but they managed to clinch a surprise win with a brace from left wing-back Marcos Alonso. Speaking on his Podcast, Neville admitted the game was important for a number of reasons, but importantly for the harmony between the players and the coach.

He said: “In the last two or three weeks, people have been writing Chelsea off. We are aware of what happened last time after Chelsea won the title. Mancini, Ranieri and Mourinho have all been sacked pretty quickly after winning the title. They stood up today.

Diego Costa’s agent in talks with AC Milan

Chelsea could end their three-year association with striker Diego Costa this summer after manager Antonio Conte texted the player personally to suggest that he has not future at Stamford Bridge.

The Spain international became only the third Blues player to achieve the 20-goal mark in two separate seasons as his team clinched the Premier League title last term.

Despite the trophy success, his future has been the talk in the media in recent weeks with suggestions that he could entertain a move to former club Atletico Madrid. However, this route appears to have stalled for the immediate future after the Spanish club failed to have their transfer embargo overturned at the Court of Arbitration of Sport.

With that option of the radar, super agent Jorge Mendes has begun talks with AC Milan, who are willing to spend big to bring back the olden days. According to The London Evening Standard, Mendes is in discussions over a proposed deal for his client, although Costa prefers a return to Madrid. Contrasting reports also suggest that Mendes could be negotiating for James Rodriguez, who is eyeing a fresh challenge away from Real Madrid.

Antonio Conte confident on Arsenal than his Own Team for FA Cup

Antonio Conte thinks that Arsenal has better chances than his team of clinching the FA Cup.

The reason why Conte thinks so is that Arsenal has not achieved much this season. In fact, they have underachieved. They have failed to meet the standard that they have set for themselves in the last couple of decades. So, they would be desperate to have some kind of success at last.

The Blues, on the other hand, have absolutely swept the English season with as many as thirty victories in the top flight. The Premiership title is already theirs. So regardless of whatever happens in the Cup final, it will go down as a successful season for them and the players know that. And because of that Conte fears that they may not have as much hunger in them as the Gunners.

However, as per Conte, while addressing his team ahead of the Cup final, he would remind the players that they are only equalised with Arsenal and not ahead of them as far as the head-to-head numbers are concerned because they have played two games against them in the season, have beaten them once and have been beaten by them once and the margin of goals in both the results was almost the same.

NEVILLE HAILS CONTE’S USE OF LUIZ

Top pundit Gary Neville has hailed the way Chelsea manager Antonio Conte used David Luiz this season. The former Man United star said it was one of the best managerial decisions of the season.

The player returned to Stamford Bridge in a shocking move last summer on the final transfer day. He had moved to France to play for Paris St Germain but returned to be one of the key players this season. He is amongst the three defenders that Conte plays in his famed 3-4-3 formation.

CHELSEA ALMOST SURE TO LIFT PREMIER LEAGUE

Premier League giants Chelsea are almost clear to lift the title after seeing off Bournemouth away on Saturday.

A shocking loss at home to Crystal Palace on the first day of this month had opened up possibilities for late season drama. However, with back to back victories against Manchester City and now Bournemouth, the Blues seemed to have sealed their grip on the title.

Chelsea defeated the Cherries 3-1 to maintain their seven points lead over closest rival Tottenham Hotspur. The entertaining affair was one the Antonio Conte-led side were desperate to see off following a victory for Spurs against Watford.

Diego Costa was denied from booking his name on the scorers’ list as his attempt was converted to an own goal by defender Adam Smith. Within three minutes of the goal, an impressive N’GoloKante slipped through his attackers to send a long pass to an equally impressive Eden Hazard. The Belgium international beat goalkeeper ArturBoructo get the second goal.

Bournemouth had an attempt hit the post but their resilience paid off in the later stages of the first half when Joshua Kings’s effort made it 2-1. After the break, the hosts pushed for an equalizer but Chelsea proved why they are atop the league. Marco Alonso’s 68th minute brilliant free kick put the game beyond Eddie Howe’s men.