Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has insisted that he is open to staging talks with the club over the possibility of extending his contract, the Evening Standard reports.
The Italian tactician’s position at Stamford Bridge has come under immense scrutiny in recent weeks and the pressure has only intensified following the team’s 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth. Chelsea face Watford away from home on Monday evening in what promises to be a vital clash.
Conte has been linked with a move back to Italy, with the possibility of him returning to the national team post on the cards. However, he has since refuted these claims and insisted that he is willing to see his contract out at Stamford Bridge.
However, fresh claims from Conte indicate that he may be willing to stay for longer than the 18 months remaining on his contract.
We have the time to make the best decision. I’m giving all of myself – me and my staff and my players, for this club. We are doing the maximum for this club. If the club understands this and the club wants to extend a new contract, we can talk. We can talk. Why not?
But I repeat, I don’t like to try to push with the press for a new contract. My contract expires in 2019. My desire and my will are to continue to work with this club.
Chelsea have been linked with swoops for managers such as Diego Simeone and Maurizio Sarri in recent times, but it seems Conte would like to be shown faith by his club amid the ever-growing speculation.
I must be honest, when there are these type of rumours or speculation after the first game of the season against Burnley… Maybe I’d like the club to prepare a statement for me to say they trust me in my work and my job.
But, at the same time, I know this never happened in the past, so why should I hope for something different? But, for sure, I’d like to have a statement of support against this speculation.
