Conte an “asset for the club” and Chelsea must keep him on next year insists club legend

Conte an “asset for the club” and Chelsea must keep him on next year insists club legend

Chelsea legend Zianfrano Zola has insisted his former side must do everything in their power to keep Antonio Conte at the club next season.

Rumours are circulating that Chelsea are already lining up a replacement for Conte at the end of the season, with former Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel the supposed favourite for the job.

Conte won the Premier League in astonishing fashion with his first season at the club, and won the Chelsea fans and players over with his enigmatic performances on the touchline.

However, the Italian has endured a more difficult second season at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea currently sit 5th in the Premier League, and Conte’s relationship with club owner Roman Abramovich has come under strain after Conte suggested the Russian billionaire does not provide him with enough money to buy the players needed to compete at the top level.

Zola however believes the pair must do all they can to fix their relationship and keep Conte at The Bridge next season.

Asked if Conte will leave this summer, Zola told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast: “I really hope not, because I think he is an asset for the club. He’s a good coach, without doubt – he’s actually one of the best around.

“At the moment there are certainly some problems.

“If the club and manager want to continue – and I think that will be good for the club – they should sort them [the problems] out because the competition out there is so incredible.

“There is no league in the world where you see teams get so much better every year – it’s so competitive off the pitch and on the pitch.”