So no one sees this as a good thing? Great..

I have not read a single response saying they don't think it's a good thing, just people wondering why there's no extension. But don't let that affect the narrative that people just complain about everything, are negative about everything, and are never happy. Because it's such a nice, like-inducing narrative.

Edited July 19, 20178 yr by Zeta

1 hour ago, Sindre said:

I am sure it must be pretty rare for a player or manager to get a hefty payrise without having to extend his current contract. To me this sounds like the club knows Conte is really unhappy with how we have looked in the transfer market and the club is trying to make up for it by paying him £3 million more a year. Like a "we are sorry we have fecked things up again, but here have another £3 million a year and stay pleeeeeeeease"

It would work for me

For me it shows a level of commitment. It would be a PR disaster if Conte were to leave in the next few months, and being a club that has had several PR disasters in the past I think we're keen to avoid this. He's signed for another 2 years, meaning if he stays that's 3 years in the role. 3 years at Chelsea is seen as longevity really, and Conte doesn't strike me as someone who wants to build a 'dynasty' and be here for 10+ years and that just isn't the way our club works either. I'm hoping for another successful 2 seasons and a serious crack at the Champions League!

So, who didn't want to extend the deal? It's very rare, to the point it's almost unheard of nowadays for a manager to sign a new contract but not extend the length of the deal. 

Conte? Does he not want to commit to a long term contract and wants to keep his options open for the future? Guardiola often signed 12 month deals at previous clubs, similar tact from Conte? 

Or was it the board? We were burned pretty badly after giving Mourinho a 4 year contract after the title win only to end up paying out the best part of £10m in compensation when we sacked him. 

I think the board is not interested in doing another 'José'. That deal was f**king stupid in retrospect of course.

Lets just see how this season goes.

From what I read regarding Mourinho's pay out. We only actually up 1 year of his contract, So I don't believe fear of compensation would've been an issue. Most likely it was agreed that conte deserved a pay rise, but there was no rush to extend. 

I'm happy for him to sign as it will hopefully put rumours of him leaving to bed. 

He's been pretty well backed so far, with 2 of his top targets, and 2 of his own staff, but the striker situation is starting to look desperate, and I think conte has to take some blame for that. We could've kept costa sweet, whilst working on bringing someone in.

Now we are in an ugly predicament. 

Nice to see Conte getting some reward. I have no doubt he's frustrated, but so far he has kept quiet. I'm sure he will be asked 100 times about our slow transfer dealings, be interest to hear his thoughts. The striker situation is getting desperate with each passing day, look like the only realistic signing is Belloti , maybe we should have made a serious bid weeks ago and could have sorted by now. We aren't even looking into other options, I reckon even Hernandez is worth a shout, he'd score 15-20 goals if given 25-30 games. In the worst case, we could end up with  Batshuayi, Lorente and Remy for the new season

2 hours ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Does he not want to commit to a long term contract and wants to keep his options open for the future? 

 

To me it sounds like he wants to stay BUT is happy to consider AC Milan perhaps as early as next summer.

 

6 hours ago, the special one said:

To me it sounds like he wants to stay BUT is happy to consider AC Milan perhaps as early as next summer.

 

What are you on mate? He's Juve through and through, him going to one of the Milan clubs would be akin to JT managing the Spuds or Gary Neville at Liverpool... It won't happen in a million years.

When Antonio makes a plan, he bloody well follows through on it (albeit 12 months later).

 

Just thinking about this when I posted about Aurier; I'm impressed/happy/relieved Conte came out on top with the Costa drama. Back this guy with whatever he wants please

Delighted that he has been given a new contract.

Antonio Conte has certainly delivered.

 

Very telling interview from the manager. As tactful as he is, it's plain to see he's a bit frustrated about our transfer activity so far.

 

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/antonio-conte-overcame-doubts-to-sign-new-chelsea-deal-after-promise-of-several-more-new-arrivals-a3593991.html

Antonio Conte has confirmed he sought assurances over Chelsea's ambition before signing a new two-year contract and is still urging them to make many more signings.

Conte admits he did have a few private doubts about staying on after an exhausting first campaign in charge, even though he won the title.

The Italian agreed a new salary worth £9.5m-a-year earlier this week, but significantly did not extend beyond the two years remaining on his original deal.

As Standard Sport revealed, both camps are happy with this and plan to discuss another deal should all continue to go well.

But the former Juventus coach concedes that talking to the club over their transfer plans has been key to him putting pen to paper at Stamford Bridge.

When asked if he ever considered leaving, he said: "My decision was always to stay with Chelsea and continue this work. But you know very well that our job is not simple and anything can happen during our path and our career.

"I spoke with the club and we found the right view about the future of this club. For every manager it is important to explain your idea. 

"It's very important that the club understand your idea and the club is ready also to work together, to try together and to be this solid foundation. I can want this, but if I'm alone it's very difficult to do this.

"We are a great club but are in a moment where we can't make a mistake because it's very dangerous.

"We don't have a lot of space to make mistakes. We need to improve and increase our squad and to be something important for the present but also for our future."

Conte spent his first year at Chelsea living apart from his wife and daughter, who remained in Italy although visited regularly.

They are now moving to the capital full-time and Conte says that was another factor in staying on.

He added: "It will be good news for them to come to England because to stay another season without my family would be very hard, very difficult.

"My daughter is at an age when it’s very important to see her grow, to stay every day with her. And also with my wife, because she would be jealous for this. 

"We are seeing a different solution. If you compare last season, when I was alone and I decided to stay in London and to stay behind our hotel before the matches.

"My family is very important and them coming over will show my commitment to the club."

However, Conte remains anxious that Chelsea have not bought enough players this summer to remain competitive. Chelsea have spent £132m on Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Antonio Rudiger, while Willy Caballero arrived on a free transfer.

But Conte says that is not enough given the club have allowed so many more players to leave on a permanent basis - sales have raised £130m in revenue during the calendar year - or on loan.

The club have also seen a number of legends that were key to their success during the Roman Abramovich era - the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard, Petr Cech, Ashley Cole, Branislav Ivanovic and Mikel John Obi - move on in recent campaigns.

Conte complained his squad was the smallest among the top six clubs last term and is worried about a lack of numbers once again, especially with the Champions League to contend with on top of the three domestic cup competitions.

He continued: "If you remember when I spoke last season I told you: ‘Look, we are in a situation that we lost a lot of big players.’ A lot of big players that were fundamental at Chelsea. 

"Now we are at one point where we need to rebuild again these fundamentals because you can see that we do not have many players. 

"Now it’s very important to try to find the players with the right characteristic and also to buy young players to create this momentum for the present and also for the future, to create something for Chelsea.

"For sure we need to improve the quality and to improve our squad because next season will be very tough for us.

"We arrived at this moment after finishing last season where I utilised only 13 players regularly and we won the League and arrived at the final of the FA Cup.

"Chelsea is a great team and must try every season to fight until the end to win the competition. 

"This season the target is the same but it won’t be easy because you can see Manchester City, Manchester United, the other teams as well are trying to reinforce themselves and I repeat we are changing a lot. More from necessity, not because I wanted to change."

Good interview this.  

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4721212/Chelsea-boss-Antonio-Conte-rebooted-ahead-new-season.html

9 minutes ago, Kev56 said:

Good interview this.  

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4721212/Chelsea-boss-Antonio-Conte-rebooted-ahead-new-season.html

Yes,

 

and it's clear that he does want more signings from that.

 

 

4 hours ago, abramovich said:

Very telling interview from the manager. As tactful as he is, it's plain to see he's a bit frustrated about our transfer activity so far.

 

 

  Hide contents

 

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/antonio-conte-overcame-doubts-to-sign-new-chelsea-deal-after-promise-of-several-more-new-arrivals-a3593991.html

Antonio Conte has confirmed he sought assurances over Chelsea's ambition before signing a new two-year contract and is still urging them to make many more signings.

Conte admits he did have a few private doubts about staying on after an exhausting first campaign in charge, even though he won the title.

The Italian agreed a new salary worth £9.5m-a-year earlier this week, but significantly did not extend beyond the two years remaining on his original deal.

As Standard Sport revealed, both camps are happy with this and plan to discuss another deal should all continue to go well.

But the former Juventus coach concedes that talking to the club over their transfer plans has been key to him putting pen to paper at Stamford Bridge.

When asked if he ever considered leaving, he said: "My decision was always to stay with Chelsea and continue this work. But you know very well that our job is not simple and anything can happen during our path and our career.

"I spoke with the club and we found the right view about the future of this club. For every manager it is important to explain your idea. 

"It's very important that the club understand your idea and the club is ready also to work together, to try together and to be this solid foundation. I can want this, but if I'm alone it's very difficult to do this.

"We are a great club but are in a moment where we can't make a mistake because it's very dangerous.

"We don't have a lot of space to make mistakes. We need to improve and increase our squad and to be something important for the present but also for our future."

Conte spent his first year at Chelsea living apart from his wife and daughter, who remained in Italy although visited regularly.

They are now moving to the capital full-time and Conte says that was another factor in staying on.

He added: "It will be good news for them to come to England because to stay another season without my family would be very hard, very difficult.

"My daughter is at an age when it’s very important to see her grow, to stay every day with her. And also with my wife, because she would be jealous for this. 

"We are seeing a different solution. If you compare last season, when I was alone and I decided to stay in London and to stay behind our hotel before the matches.

"My family is very important and them coming over will show my commitment to the club."

However, Conte remains anxious that Chelsea have not bought enough players this summer to remain competitive. Chelsea have spent £132m on Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Antonio Rudiger, while Willy Caballero arrived on a free transfer.

But Conte says that is not enough given the club have allowed so many more players to leave on a permanent basis - sales have raised £130m in revenue during the calendar year - or on loan.

The club have also seen a number of legends that were key to their success during the Roman Abramovich era - the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard, Petr Cech, Ashley Cole, Branislav Ivanovic and Mikel John Obi - move on in recent campaigns.

Conte complained his squad was the smallest among the top six clubs last term and is worried about a lack of numbers once again, especially with the Champions League to contend with on top of the three domestic cup competitions.

He continued: "If you remember when I spoke last season I told you: ‘Look, we are in a situation that we lost a lot of big players.’ A lot of big players that were fundamental at Chelsea. 

"Now we are at one point where we need to rebuild again these fundamentals because you can see that we do not have many players. 

"Now it’s very important to try to find the players with the right characteristic and also to buy young players to create this momentum for the present and also for the future, to create something for Chelsea.

"For sure we need to improve the quality and to improve our squad because next season will be very tough for us.

"We arrived at this moment after finishing last season where I utilised only 13 players regularly and we won the League and arrived at the final of the FA Cup.

"Chelsea is a great team and must try every season to fight until the end to win the competition. 

"This season the target is the same but it won’t be easy because you can see Manchester City, Manchester United, the other teams as well are trying to reinforce themselves and I repeat we are changing a lot. More from necessity, not because I wanted to change."

 

Who can blame him? The board's tightening of transfer spending since 2015 and the mass outflow of players since last season left the club lacking in both quality and quantity when it comes to challenging in Europe.  It would be foolish of him not to demand for signings before he put pen to paper.  Why would he want to be set up for failure as a result of not being backed in the transfer market? Good to see the board has listened and acted on Conte's wishes but the job is only half done.  There's still one or two wing backs, a central midfielder to replace Matic and a third striker that needs to be bought.

The interview reinforces what I'd been suspecting in that there was more surrounding things than a straightforward contract renewal.  Firstly, I don't think Antonio will commit to a longer contract until he knows that his family have settled in London, they are currently in the process of moving so if they settle well we could see an extension next summer.  Secondly, I think Antonio wanted to select the coaches added to his backroom staff which he now has, it had been suggested that the club wanted to promote from within.  Finally, I think Antonio wants a squad that allows him to play both 3-4-3 and 4-2-4, I think the signing so far support these options, as do many of the players we have been linked with.

I am glad there are some interviews coming out now.  A couple of weeks ago when there had been no contract and no interviews I was starting to get concerned.

On 7/20/2017 at 05:50, Charles Ryder said:

When Antonio makes a plan, he bloody well follows through on it (albeit 12 months later).

 

He let Real Madrid develop him first. Less risk. LOL

Things are definitely looking good now.

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/chelsea-transfer-news-new-signing-antonio-conte-llorente-benteke-sandro-morata-a7855571.html

Interesting.  http://www.espnfc.com/chelsea/story/3163352/chelsea-boss-antonio-conte-admits-he-considered-his-options-after-first-year

 

"After a tough season, it's very important always to look back, to see the season and then to understand very well," he said in the Mail on Sunday when asked if had considered his future in May.

"It was very important for me because it was my first season in England, a new country without my family, and it was important to understand my situation in all aspects, OK?

"For sure, I enjoyed the season in England and with Chelsea, but I must be honest, it was very tough for me and for my family. Sometimes when you win, you think that everything is easy, but it wasn't to win and to have this type of season."

15 minutes ago, Tibbers said:

Things are definitely looking good now.

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/chelsea-transfer-news-new-signing-antonio-conte-llorente-benteke-sandro-morata-a7855571.html

Yeah but broken arm and last year of contract, it would be a waste dumping 30 mill on llorente when we need 2 wingbacks and a new midfielder. 

Who unpinned this thread? 

It should be back in the pole position!

Pictorial proof that Antonio has not, in fact, lost his smile this summer.

He's doing a press conference tonight at half ten. I wonder what he'll say...