ANTONIO CONTE INSISTS he wants to remain at Chelsea for the foreseeable future despite renewed links with the head coach role at Inter.
The Italian is just one win away from steering the Blues to the Premier League title in his first season at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea will get the job done if they beat West Brom at The Hawthorns on Friday.
However, earlier this season former Juventus boss Conte was linked with a return to Italy to coach Inter and, with the Nerazzurri having dismissed Stefano Pioli this week, those rumours have quickly resurfaced.
Conte, though, was keen to distance himself from a departure when addressing the reports at a pre-match news conference.
“I have a contract with Chelsea, for two years,” he said.
“It is logical when you start the work in a new club, the will is to continue to work for many years. For sure this is my will.
“Now the most important thing is to reach our target, because to arrive at this moment and have a great opportunity we have worked very hard. Now we need to be ready and do this step and to win and celebrate.”
When pressed on the Inter rumours, he added: “I repeat what I said before, I have a contract, two years with Chelsea, but also I like to repeat for me and my players it is important to be focused in the moment, the moment is very important.
“It is not important the single person now; me, the players, we must be focused on the moment.
“It is normal to have a lot of speculation, on me, the players, the coaches, but we can’t lose the focus, now it is very important.”
It has also been rumoured that Chelsea – who are also in the FA Cup final where they will meet Arsenal – are planning to offer Conte a lucrative new contract with the promise of a huge war chest to add to his squad for next term.
But Conte says that money is not a motivating factor in any decisions he makes.
He added: “When you reach a type of level the money could be important, but it is not all.
“When you stay at this level the money only explains your value, it is not important.
“You work in football as a footballer, stay at the top level for many years, then become a top coach, I don’t think money is as important.
“It is important to win and to write the history of the club. Money is important, but not all.”
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Ruddock Leavy Heaslip O Brien Van der Flier Murphy Fardy Conan Deegan Leinster back row strength is unreal If carlsberg did backrows they would probably not be as good as Leinsters
Rare to see two players joining straight from school in Aungier and O’Sullivan.
I just don’t know how Leinster are going to keep all these backrows happy but I hope they do.
The talent level being brought through is amazing.
@Gustave H: the great thing is the talent is flowing to the first team and beyond so they must know the way to keep them all happy.
@Gustave H: Let Ulster sign them to let them get game time.
@Christiaan Theron: I don’t think it’s a case of letting them. They want to stay and fight for their place.
From what I heard Ulster went in heavily for Jack Conan and he’d no interest.
@Gustave H: True. There’s one or two that would want to do a serious bit of thinking though. It’s admirable wanting to earn the starting spot here, but playing week in week out and in Champions Cup games in Ravenhill would stand to them more than a few Pro12 games during the Six Nations. It’s a short career, and waiting in line didn’t work out for Ryan or Madigan.
Some of these kids should go on loan to Ulster and London Irish
@Aidan O: They don’t want to.
@Lf: Shows how ambitious they are. Every player knows they have to play regular on the 23 for a province to get capped.
@Christiaan Theron: You’re right Christian, it does show how ambitious they are. Instead of moving to another lesser side backing yourself to get into a team packed full of talent that’s more likely to challenge for trophies shows serious ambition and confidence.
@Christiaan Theron: Heaslip, O’Brien, Leavy, Murphy, Van der Flier, Conan and Ruddock. All Irish internationals
@Oval Digest: You mean like Marty Moore and Ian Madigan now presently lost to the Irish national side.
@Christiaan Theron: did James Ryan not get capped for Ireland before playing for Leinster?
@Christiaan Theron: Haha those support my point! Both stayed and were in the Irish squad, when they left they were found out a bit and left out.
Why would you want to head to Ulster or London Irish if you were an ambitious, talented player from Leinster?
If anything, it would show a lack of ambition to move.
@Christiaan Theron: Ulster should try developing their own players instead of relying on Saffers and other provinces.