Antonio Conte
Chelsea’s appointment of Antonio Conte as manager “does not make any sense”, says ex-Blues striker Chris Sutton.
He thinks the Italy boss is too similar to Jose Mourinho, who was sacked in December amid suggestions he had fallen out with several senior players.
“If the players have downed tools before there is every suggestion that, with Conte being a similar type to Mourinho, they will down tools again,” Sutton told BBC Radio 5 live.
Conte, 46, takes over after Euro 2016.
“If he comes in and starts hitting the players with a whip, are they going to respond?” asked Sutton.
“Bringing in a similar type of manager to Mourinho in Conte doesn’t make any sense to me.”
Two other former Chelsea players, Andy Townsend and Pat Nevin, think the Premier League champions, who were 16th in the table when Mourinho was dismissed, have made a “good appointment” in ex-Juventus boss Conte.
“I don’t think Conte will be far removed from what Jose was like at his very best,” said former Republic of Ireland midfielder Townsend.
“Jose captured the attention of the players when he arrived. There was an intensity about what he did, the players responded and enjoyed working under that sort of regime. I feel Conte will do the same.”
Ex-Scotland winger Nevin added: “People think of him as a one-system manager. He’s not. He’s always been very adaptable.”
After Mourinho’s sacking, Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo said there had been a “palpable discord between manager and players”.
As a temporary measure and to restore some stability, the Blues appointed Guus Hiddink as interim manager for a second time.
The Dutchman has not lost any of his 15 league games in charge and has guided them to 10th in the table.
Sutton said keeping the former Netherlands boss would have been a “good option”.
“It is working under him – the team …Read More
Source:: PM Newspaper
