Conte pays tribute to ‘fantastic’ Willian

Antonio Conte has paid tribute to Willian and confirmed that the Brazilian is ready for a recall to the Chelsea side.

Willian, a popular figure among fans, came on as a late substitute against Manchester United, having missed recent matches following the death of his mother.

“Willian is in a good moment now. Before, the moment wasn’t good for him,” said Blues boss Conte, who was reluctant to include the player until he was sure he was ready.

The Italian added: “He is a fantastic man and a fantastic player. We love him.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea believe Kurt Zouma will soon be in contention for a first-team return following his long-term knee injury.

Zouma featured for the club’s development side in a 2-2 draw against Derby County on Monday evening.

“I am pleased about this because Zouma is a good player and I hope to see him very, very soon,” said Conte.

“When we start the training session after West Ham, I hope to see him start working with us.

“I am very happy that he played with the Under-23s. He had a good answer in the physical aspect after the game, and we are pleased.”