Chelsea FC meet the new boss in surprise (kind of) visit
Chelsea FC were reportedly delivered a surprise earlier this week when Antonio Conte turned up for a meet and greet with the incumbent squad.
With about two months until Italy’s opening match in the Euros against Belgium (and a chance to scout/kidnap Radja Nainggolan) Antonio Conte has a freshly signed £5-million per year Chelsea FC contract and free time.
So, according to the Daily Mail, he decided to drop-in on the goings on at Cobham.
"Chelsea’s new manager Antonio Conte was introduced to his squad on Tuesday and will hold a series of individual meetings with those who want to leave."
It was always presumed that Conte would find a way to contact current Chelsea players sometime between his hiring and the Euros. With face-to-face meetings with want-away talent in the works, some players are likely to exit the grounds either re-energized or humming a famous line from The Who, ‘meet the new boss, same as the old boss’.
"Players were surprised when the Italy coach, who takes over after Euro 2016, arrived at Chelsea’s Cobham training complex with technical director Michael Emenalo."
Not entirely sure how surprised the players were but that Emenalo served as tour guide for the visit may mean something. In fact, the Evening Standard goes a step further, saying the Nigerian’s role is safe and that he and Conte are brothers in arms, gearing up for Operation: Recoup Lukaku.
"He wants to establish who is keen to leave ahead of a potential summer rebuild, and will hold meetings with Eden Hazard, John Terry, Nemanja Matic and Diego Costa."
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It’s widely reported that Conte favors giving John Terry a one-year contract, if only because a stalwart locker room manager’s echo is never a bad thing to have ahead of imminent changes. Though Atletico Madrid continue to be open about their desire to get Diego Costa back in red and white, it’s unlikely Conte or Chelsea will let him go. Which is good news for us and great news for the English media.
It’s Hazard and Matic who will likely have the sweatiest palms ahead of their meet-and-greets. Neither have been close to the form each showed last season and a new manager who promised only a one year absence from European football may not have time to find out why. Matic may just need to heal, as his errant form seems to have started around the time of that nasty and unpunished Ashley Barnes challenge. Still, that may not make up for the fact that Matic’s best position doesn’t really exist in the 3-4-3 Conte is rumored to use.
Hazard will be the big question mark. A recommitted and in-form Hazard given new motivation and new freedoms by a new manager could serve as Chelsea’s best-ever (non-)signing. Anything less than that, or even exactly what he is now, and Conte may find it difficult to keep his promises. I’m sure they’ll have a delightful chat.
Next: Five Chelsea FC players who need to impress Antonio Conte
Wouldn’t want to be them right now…