Conte on Hazard and Terry’s future, injury concerns and facing Allardyce
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte spoke about a number of issues at his news conference ahead of this weekend’s game against Crystal Palace. Here’s some of what the Italian had to say.
Injury update
“It’s important to check two or three situations and make the best decisions. This week easy wasn’t easy after the international break. Someone has come back with some problems and it is important to check and wait. I have two or three situations to evaluate.
“John [Terry ]is good and has trained all the week. For the others it is important to check their situations.
“[On Eden Hazard] I am confident, but not only to play but to play really good.”
Speculation linking Hazard with Real Madrid
“Is it true? I don’t know, but I am repeating always the same thing: now it is very important to be focused for my players on the present and don’t look too far forward, because that is very dangerous.
“The only thing I can say is that Eden is a Chelsea player and our player and we are happy with him and he is happy with us. I don’t see any problems about him.
“I think that this [speculation] is part of football, to put these rumours to try to create a bit of difficulty in the mind of the players. But I think we have great experience to face these situations and also my players have this experience.
“It is normal and logical in this part of the season to start rumours about our players and I am very happy because it means we are doing a great job with my players. If Chelsea players are requested by the other teams it means we are doing well.
“I don’t see any problems about our players. We all know we are in a great club with great ambition. There is a great will to do great things in the future but I hope to do great things in the present.”
Hazard’s future
“I don’t think it is important to talk about it. I like to talk with him about this season and the importance of the game. He missed the last game against Stoke and we have to check his form. I hope he stays very well and shows great things tomorrow and plays great football. I like to talk about this.”
Terry’s future
“For every situation there will be the right moment to face it. The club is working very well to solve many situations that we have to face. I like to talk John for this season because he is helping me a lot. He is doing a great job in and out of the pitch.
“John knows my thoughts about him and I think the most important thing is this.”
The title race
“There are 10 games to play and we hope to finish the season with great success for us, for the club and for our fans. Our hope is to build a great team.
“In my past I had two experiences, one positive and one negative, and for this reason I like to repeat that we need 21 points to be champions. Tomorrow we play a game very tough for us because after the international break is not easy.
“I think it [the Palace game] is very difficult for many reasons. We have to pay great attention. It is a game of fundamental importance.”
On facing Sam Allardyce
“I had the opportunity to speak with him and I think he is a top coach. For sure it’s a pity for him to have been sacked from the national team after one game, because I know the importance to be the coach of your national team.
“It is great pleasure tomorrow to see him and chat with him before and after the game.”
