Antonio Conte had plenty to talk about today when the Italian manager stepped up to talk to the media ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League clash against Leicester City tomorrow afternoon.
After a two-week international break from the league football, Chelsea will get the campaign rolling again as they host the reign champions at Stamford Bridge.
On the Blues’s last game away at Hull City, Conte made a big change to the line-up, as he switched on to play Chelsea with three at the back.
He’s looking forward to continue using the system, as the result spoke for it’s efficiency, and goals from Willian and Diego Costa won Chelsea the match 2-0 at the KC Stadium.
Conte told that he will have four central defenders available, and will have to choose three of them for the starting line-up, Metro reports.
It’s important for me to see every day the shape, every day the situation.
Tomorrow I have four central defenders and I have to take a decision for three, I have to value the situation – one must go on the bench.
I love the players who always show a good spirit. I prefer that they have an English spirit because it’s very strong.
I need them [the defenders] to attack the striker and be fast to cover the space.
Kurt Zouma is unlikely to be starting just yet despite reports of him returning to Chelsea training, but captain John Terry is on the course of making a comeback to the first team.
Conte says John Terry is available for tomorrow's game. #CFC
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 14, 2016
While the skipper makes a delightful return, Chelsea star Willian is absent due to the death of his mother, who struggled against her fight to cancer.
Conte has given the Brazilian a permission to miss tomorrow’s match, while Chelsea said on their website: “All of us at Chelsea are sending our love and deepest condolences to Willian and his family after the passing of his mother. We are thinking of you Willian.”
Conte: 'We are very sad for Willian, our prayers are with him and his family.'
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 14, 2016
Earlier this week there was also a rumour linking Conte to an early exit from the club, as multiple betting sites suspended betting on him being axed.
However, it all turned out to be false after Conte broke the silence regarding the reports, and laughed off at the fact of the rumour ever popping up, Express reports.
I’m trying to find who put the money on!
It’s very difficult to talk about this situation because I am focused about my work to improve the team.
I have good communication and relationship with the club and it is nothing. I take this with a smile.
We are working very hard to change the situation. We are trying to build something important for the present and the future.
Chelsea have had a mixed start to the Premier League under their new manager, but the 47-year-old thinks pressure of never coaching away from Italy before is not the reason to the few unconvincing results.
It is normal to live with the pressure when you are in a club that wants to win.
Pressure is a part of our job and it is the same in other countries.
