For what feels like the millionth time, Antonio Conte has professed his love for Italy and his desire to leave Chelsea at some point in the unforeseen future.
Antonio Conte is a phenomenal manager and seems to be a good man. Personally, I like him and have on many occasions highlighted the fact that his style of old-school management is the sort of thing that Chelsea need. That said, keeping the club, its players and the fans on their toes regarding his future is absurd.
Antonio Conte should commit to Chelsea. His project isn’t even close to being done and if he’s actually as competitive as he says he is then he’ll know that the Premier League and its managerial competition is easily the best in Europe. If he favors himself on the grand stage Chelsea is where he must stay.
It is not a surprise that Chelsea job is politically a difficult one. But all the best clubs are as much political tools as they are football clubs. Conte knew what he was getting into. Acting shocked or upset about it now would be foolish. If he’s upset about the boardroom structure and his access to Roman Abramovich and Marina Granovskaia, he should work to change that – not quit and run.
He is the perfect man to change the status quo and quite literally build the club in his image. Chelsea is a unique opportunity for a manager. At Juventus, there will always be bigger and grander names to live up to. The same applies to Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona.
At Bayern Munich, meanwhile, no matter how excellent you are you will never be Franz Beckenbauer. At Chelsea, Conte has the opportunity to craft Conte FC if he stays long enough. He’s a smart and charming enough man that he can figure out the relationships at board level.
Conte should show that, by staying for over 5 years, he can truly affect the culture and make-up of the club. It was only a few weeks ago he was discussing the joys of leading Chelsea out in the new stadium. He should be that man. He’s got class, pedigree, honor and intelligence. He understands how to act and what football means to the supporters.
The allure of home is always appealing but the greats are those who push boundaries instead of resigning to the comfort of them. Jose Mourinho has won in three major leagues, as did Giovanni Trapattoni. Marco Polo could have stayed in Italy but China and the silk road drew him away. He would have been more comfortable in his home country, but history called.
Fortune is for the brave. You need to fight and pound and bite and wrestle your life into being the way you want it. That edge of oblivion, the adrenaline-pumping line between sanity and madness is what you live for if you’re a competitor. Antonio Conte claims that he is and it would be a betrayal of the self for him to deny that.
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Antonio Conte would be a coward and a fool to leave Chelsea after only two years. He’s too damn good. Too damn talented and smart to do that. It would be a disservice to his 75-year-old self if the 48-year-old were to cut and run now. I believe in Antonio Conte and what he can build. It could be great…dynastic even. Or he could go home and be comfortable.