ANTONIO CONTE HAS lashed out at bullshit reports surrounding his training methods at Chelsea.
The Italian led Chelsea to the Premier League title last season, but they have struggled to keep pace with Manchester City so far this term, Conte’s intense work on the training field reportedly rubbing Blues players up the wrong way.
Carlo Ancelotti has been linked with a return to Stamford Bridge and senior players were said to have messaged former assistant Steve Holland, now part of the England set-up, to tell him he was missed at the club.
Conte faced the media ahead of Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth and stated that Holland had contacted him to deny the story’s veracity.
A bullish Conte said: “I think that around us there is a lot of bullshit.
“It’s true. If I see in the past, it happened with other managers – a lot of bullshit and they try to create problems between me and the club, me and the players.
“It’s a lack of respect. I can accept writing that the club is ready to sack me. I can accept the story with the players, but to put another person in this way, I think this is 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 bullshit? Why?
“If you want to hit me, hit me. I’m ready. But don’t put another person [in it], I hate this kind of situation.”
Ancelotti is out of work after being sacked by Bayern Munich, but Conte does not fear being usurped by his former boss at Juventus.
“I’m in touch with Carlo as he’s my friend,” Conte said. “He does not mean nothing. Why? Honestly I don’t read a lot.
“I don’t care what the newspapers write about my future. This is my job. Carlo is my friend and I have great respect for him.”
Congrats to everyone who got an award there tonight, all well deserved. Thought probably the most hotly contested one was the young player of the year award. I’d have given it to Jeremy Loughman but equally it could have been Fineen wycherly too and in the same breath you cAnt argue with goggin winning it either.
@Jim Demps: g’wan Jim Jim. We know you want an award as well: The mystic meg memorial award
@Roibeard O’ Beachain: good contribution.
@Jim Demps: Goggin looked sharp when he came on the other day, like to see more of him AND Sammy, and Bill, and Casey, and Flannery and both Wycherly’s AND the list goes on.
@thesaltyurchin: yeah I’d fully expect you’ll see plenty more of them next year. This season seems to be about sorting out the squad in terms of the players Van Graan wants and thinks are up to it and the ones who will move on. The young players he likes have seen plenty of action. It’ll be very interesting to see the academy players once it’s finalised. I know James McCarthy and Matt more are gone and I’d expect some more as well and then there will be plenty of additions.
A Cork person was definitely picking those awards…!
@Treaty Bhoy: why do you do it
Will never understand giving awards to referees?? They should all be doing the exact same job, so why pick one out and say you are doing it better. Is there any other sport that does this??
@Kyle Mac Creddin: Soccer, GAA do it. Plenty others as well.
Why not recognise referees as much as players/coaches/teams for work/successes during the season?
@Ormond: Exactly. Players are thought the same things but some perform better than other, it’s the same for referees.
@Kyle Mac Creddin: Is there a sport that doesn’t do this? If you don’t have referees, you don’t have games. Playing is the easy part, I often wonder what makes someone want to ref. They deserve the awards and recognition for excelling as much if not more than players.
Unbelievable performance from Donal L.
Congrats to all the award winners. A special congrats and thank you to Donal Lenihan, Munster’s and Ireland’s
greatest rugby performer on and off the field.
Think Goggin had a fantastic season very strong and quick in the centre. I would have had no complaint if whycherly got it as he has also been fantastic this season.
@Top Class: hopefully Wycherley has a good future ahead of him in Red, and he’s only 21. Agree he would have been a worthy winner of the award, he’s made a great impact this season.