Antonio Conte: Chelsea have ‘major worries’ about next manager after Tottenham explosion
Chelsea have major worries about re-appointing Antonio Conte after taking note of his dramatic exit from Tottenham in 2023.
The 56-year-old spoke out publicly against the board, their decisions in the transfer market, and the club’s lack of success in recent years, leading to his dismissal.
He has never been afraid to air his issues publicly, including during his time at Stamford Bridge, and while his outspoken nature has been viewed as a positive, it also causes concerns.
Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Chelsea are worried about Conte’s volatile nature, and the fact his managerial stints tend to be short-term.
This comes after Enzo Maresca was sacked for hitting out at the Blues’ board, and they are keen to avoid a repeat as Chelsea search for their next manager.
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Brown told Football Insider earlier this week that Chelsea are considering Conte among their options to become their next permanent manager.
The Italian’s no-nonsense approach and wealth of experience are viewed as positives in dealing with what is a young squad with potential issues behind the scenes.
| Antonio Conte | Chelsea Record |
| Games | 106 |
| Wins | 70 |
| Draws | 15 |
| Losses | 21 |
| Trophies Won | 1x Premier League 1x FA Cup |
However, Conte is seen as an outsider for the position as things stand, with new doubts growing, and they may have to look elsewhere.
“There are some major worries about hiring Conte,” Brown told Football Insider.
“His time at Tottenham caused a few waves, and it’s because of that Chelsea are cautious. He exploded towards the end, called out the board, the club’s mentality and the chairman.
“Then he was sacked, of course, it was essentially his passport to get out of there.
“Now, the Chelsea board have had their own issues with managers speaking out against them, that’s why Maresca was let go, so they don’t want a repeat of that.
“The other thing with Conte is, he wants to win but he wants to win short-term. It’s what he does, he comes in and makes that immediate impact.
“Chelsea, by all accounts, are looking long-term. They’ve got this young group of players and they want to build something for the future, so does Conte fit into that?
“I would argue he doesn’t at the moment, because yes it’s good to win things, but they want to build this project and Conte isn’t that type of manager.
“So he’ll be somebody they’ve looked at, but I would be surprised if he’s the one they went with.”
Who will be the next Chelsea manager?
Liam Rosenior was sacked last week following a miserable run of form, with Callum McFarlane chosen to take over on an interim basis.
The Blues are hoping to appoint their next manager before the World Cup, and have assessed a number of options as a result of those plans.
Football Insider revealed that Cesc Fabregas is admired by the Chelsea board and could be in a strong position to land the permanent role.
His work with Como in Serie A has caught the eye, while he would command respect from the players and knows the club well after his time there as a player.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is also a leading contender, with some reports suggesting contact has been made with his representatives.
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