Premier League: Is Antonio Conte set to leave Chelsea? We take a look at preferable replacement

ANTONIO CONTE came with a reputation from Juventus winning three titles in a row after two consecutive seventh-place finishes and later guiding the national team to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016. Intense training sessions, helping players stay in a good physical condition and playing attractive football with the high intensity turned around Chelsea into title-winning heroics from 10th position in the previous season. 

Conte put pen to paper on a new contract with fresh terms to ease immediate concerns over his future although he had not committed to the club beyond the next two years. “I am very happy to have signed a new contract with Chelsea,” said Conte.

“We worked extremely hard in our first year to achieve something amazing, which I am very proud of. Now we must work even harder to stay at the top.” 

The Italian tactician has failed to maintain the high standards in the second season. He has had his problems in the first season with his players particularly Diego Costa and an apparent bust-up with David Luiz after a 3-0 Roma defeat in the second season. The Spain international shared a fragile relationship with Conte and stuck together only for the sake of the team and the title march later returning to Atlético Madrid. David Luiz’s continued absence from the team was explained as a serious “knee” injury with no return date set.

Chelsea are losing patience with Antonio Conte’s complaints about the clubs transfer activity where Conte keeps stressing that he has no input into the club signings.  Conte said “I think the club decide our transfer market. As I said before, my task is to try to improve the transfer market, from the summer, the club decides every player.” Recent comments were also made on the transfer policy stating the requirement of only two to three players instead of the eight recruited.

Conte is almost certain to leave at the end of the season with the club’s hierarchy not particularly pleased with his remarks in the public domain. The board is not willing to encourage such a behaviour from their manager and they feel it creates a negative mood around the club directly affecting the results. So, if Conte leaves Stamford Bridge, who are the favourites to take the Chelsea job? 

Luis Enrique

Rumours of the former Barcelona manager taking over Chelsea are all over the media since the uncertainty of Conte lasting more than this season. Enrique has been out of the job and took a year’s sabbatical after a successful trophy-laden spell with Lionel Messi and Co. winning two La Liga titles, three Copa Del Rey titles and guiding the club to win the UEFA Champions League in his first season. The Spaniard is hot property right now with several clubs linked already. Luis Enrique wouldn’t shy away in taking up the challenge in England after a break and Chelsea would give him the ready platform to be shoulder to shoulder with his predecessor Pep Guardiola and his Madrid counterpart in Spain; Jose Mourinho.

Unai Emery

The Spaniard has taken PSG to the top of the table sitting 9 points ahead of Lyon after losing the title to Monaco last season. However, his power struggle continues with Neymar reportedly not even “looking eye to eye” with the head coach. Neymar is the highest paid player in the world costing PSG €222 mn and is pulling all the strings at PSG. It is reported that PSG have already shortlisted a few candidates for the next season because their star player is unhappy at Emery’s methods and tactics. The ex-Sevilla boss would have an opportunity if Conte leaves and would happily take charge of Chelsea should they knock on his door. 

Massimiliano Allegri

The Juventus manager is also amongst one of the sought-out managers the Russian billionaire Roman Abramovic is looking at. Allegri was the man who replaced Conte at Juventus when the Italian decided to move on to coach the national team guiding them to the semi-finals of the Euro 2016. Having guided Juventus to three straight Seria A titles and two Champions League finals, Allegri is yet to put his foot in the Premier League and a fresh challenge. A straight swap between the Italians would be a huge coup for both the clubs creating a win-win situation with Conte returning to his former club.

Guus Hiddink

The former Dutch international coach has been the go-to-caretaker manager whenever Chelsea face a crisis. Hiddink had two short spells at Chelsea as interim coach following the sacking of Luiz Filipe Scolari in 2009 and after the sacking of Jose Mourinho in December 2015. The main task of Hiddink is to stabilize the club and bring the desired results till a permanent solution is obtained. If Conte decides to part ways mid-season, Guus Hiddink with his experience would be the favourite to take over the realm having been in the position twice winning the FA Cup in the process in 2009.

The Chelsea board and Antonio Conte are at loggerheads and it is only a matter of time the situation getting out of hand with Conte paving the way for a new manager although the latter claiming the reports as bull****. 
  
  

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