Chelsea FC legend opens up about Antonio Conte’s future
Ruud Gullit delivers his verdict on Antonio Conte's future at Chelsea FC
Ruud Gullit believes that the uncertainty surrounding Antonio Conte’s future at Chelsea FC is not helping the Blues.
The Italian manager has found himself under increasing amounts of pressure at Stamford Bridge in recent days after the west London side slumped to their fourth defeat in five Premier League games on Sunday.
Chelsea FC were beaten 1-0 by Manchester City at The Etihad as they suffered yet another blow to their hopes of finishing in the top four this season.
Conte’s side are now in fifth place in the table and five points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur as the race for Champions League qualification hots up.
And former Chelsea FC star Gullit believes that the Blues chiefs should give Conte a vote of confidence to prove that they are still behind the Italian manager.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Gullit said: “All these rumours about Conte’s future will not help the team, either.
“It always seems to happen at Chelsea in the manager’s second year – not just with Conte, but with Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti too.
“You get a strange atmosphere in the dressing room when the manager is under threat – some of the players are happy with him of course but the ones who are not in the side might be thinking they might have a better chance with the next coach.
“If the club stand behind Conte then all the players would have to work for him but right now, not all of them are going to help him and some of them will want him out.”
Chelsea FC won the Premier League title last season in Conte’s first campaign in charge but they didn’t have the distraction of any European football.
The west London side will return to Premier League action on Saturday when they host Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge in front of their home fans as they bid to get back to winning ways.
