Antonio Conte has thanked Chelsea fans for the rousing backing he was given by the Stamford Bridge crowd during the 5-0 hammering of Everton.
The Italian was unaware the loud, repeated chanting of his name by the home fans was aimed at him until he was told by Paulo Bertelli.
Fitness coach Bertelli, a close ally of Conte who worked under him at Juventus and with the Italian national team, left his seat in the dugout to tell the Blues boss, who was standing near the touchline, that the fans were singing his name.
Conte said: “It was fantastic. I must be honest, I didn’t recognise that our supporters were singing my name. Then Paulo Betteli told me: ‘They are singing for you’.
“It is good, and I tell them ‘thank you’. It is important for me that the fans support me but also important they support the players every minute of every game.
“I hope in the future we can continue always together.”
Conte was full of praise for his players, whose thumping win took them to the top of the Premier League table.
“Above all I am pleased for my players. It is important to win, but when we win in this way, playing good football, I think it is great,” he said.
This post was last modified on 06/11/2016