Whether it transpires imminently or by the end of the campaign, Antonio Conte’s dismissal is one that seems almost foreseeable and inevitable. Chelsea’s boss is bound to be shown the exit doors at some point in the not too distant future. With multiple reports and talks being traced all the way back to the transfer window of the summer when the 48-year-old was said to be discontented with the club’s transfer activity.
Currently, Conte’s days at Chelsea look to be numbered and it is only a matter of time before he is handed the pink slip – with reports emerging over the past few weeks, around the London club holding talks with Luis Enrique to take charge at Stamford Bridge. The former FC Barcelona manager is said to become the 12th permanent manager since Roman Abramovich took over at Chelsea.
Apart from Enrique, names like Diego Simeone, Andriy Shevchenko and Carlo Ancelotti have also been linked with the club.
It was not too long ago when Conte was spotted in the stands of the Blues’ fortress, watching his former team battle it out against AS Roma. Is the Italian all set to succeed his fellow countryman at Stamford Bridge?
Fingers have been pointed at Conte for the way this season has unfolded for Chelsea. This is the same club that won the Premier League crown only last year, yet now they seem to be falling apart and are even struggling to finish in the top four on the Premier League chart.
Moreover, Conte has fallen victim to the way of business that subsists at Chelse. He isn’t the first. One too many times before, this squad has suddenly stopped working as a unit. It happened under Andre-Villas Boas, Rafael Benitez and especially during Jose Mourinho’s time at the club.
Conte is suffering the same problem. If the players think a change of bosses is a quick fix to the club’s problems, the club authorities are highly likely to do everything it takes to instill the change and sack the current manager.
Chelsea players have successfully forced managerial changes in the past by willingly surrendering, as the Blues did during their 4-1 defeat against Watford on 6 February. Keeping this in mind, there isn’t much left to discourage them from repeating the act again.
The results have been dire – before the Watford loss, Conte’s men had already suffered a 3-0 loss at home to AFC Bournemouth. The trip to AS Roma, that ended in a draw seemed to have been another low point, just as the matches against the likes of Burnley and Crystal Palace.
Club owner Roman Abramovich is well known for maintaining relations with certain players, subsequently resulting in cliques that end up dividing the locker room. This enables these select squad members to enforce a managerial alteration.
Although there is no suggestion that the process has begun to make Conte leave, however, it feeds into the ethos that has apparently predicted an end for him at the club. The manager that succeeds the former Juventus boss will have to either learn to live with this set up or find a way to address the issue. Chelsea is Abramovich’s club and he is the one to set the tone for all the happenings inside of it. Unfortunately, Conte has had to learn this the hard way.
On more than one occasion, Conte has voiced his desire to return home, displeased with the lack of support from the club during the transfer window. In January, Chelsea lost Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United, even though Conte had publicly expressed his interest in the former Arsenal player.
The Chelsea manager had to settle with Olivier Giroud, Ross Barkley and Emerson Palmieri for a collective transfer fee of £50 million for all three. Will he be disappointed when the inevitable takes place? If this is his last season in charge at Chelsea, his side misses out on the top four which is a sincere likelihood as the gap between the 4th and 5th spot is that of four points; it will not stain his name permanently.
The Italian National Team hired Luigi Di Biagio as their interim head coach, which keeps Conte’s seat back home conveniently warm, at least till the end of the current season.
Another prospect destination for Antonio Conte to consider could be the Arsenal role. With Arsene Wenger’s job looking to be in a bit of trouble especially after their 3-0 loss to Manchester City at Wembley during the Carabao Cup final, Conte could be the change that Arsenal need.
Liverpool club veteran and football pundit, Jamie Carragher believes that the North London club is “in desperate need of Conte's persona, [And] it would be one of the most astute managerial appointments in Premier League history.” Even though Wenger has been in charge at the Emirates since 1996, the Frenchman has been unsuccessful in delivering the kind of success that he had achieved during the initial stages of his tenure at the club.
The only saving grace Wenger has had over the last few years is the FA Cup victories. Currently, Arsenal are placed at the 6th spot on the Premier League table, trailing eight points behind their local rivals Chelsea, fighting for a spot for the UEFA Champions League.
If whispers are to be believed, Wenger is set to part ways with Arsenal at the end of the ongoing season, ending his reign that has lasted over two decades with the Gunners. Antonio Conte could be the right man to replace his nemesis at Arsenal, and Stan Kroenke and Co must consider the Italian to be Wenger’s successor at the club.
(Vrinda Chopra is an ardent Manchester United fan and a keen player of the sport. She discovered her love for the beautiful game over a decade ago. She started writing a year ago and aspires to make an impact in the world of football someday, either on the field or off it.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)