Nick Blakely praises Conte’s contributions over the past two seasons.
It is widely anticipated that Conte will leave the club; therefore, I wanted to discuss how the dismissal of Conte will be bittersweet. Conte will go down as one of the best managers Chelsea has had up to this point, and his relationship with our supporters is incredible. Now to clarify, I am not Conte in, but this manager will always hold a special place in my heart.
The Conte we saw this season was an entirely different manager to the one fans saw in his first season. Last season, he was passionate, daring, and innovative. It was fun just watching Conte run up down the touchline like a maniac. There was no doubt that Antonio was happy to be at Chelsea.
This season, for the most part, Conte appeared to be dejected. This is mainly due to the fact he did not get the players he wanted during the summer transfer window. However, Antonio is partly at fault for this situation because he did not make his intention to stay at the club clear to the board. It was obvious when Antonio did not sign a contract extension; he was not planning on staying beyond his original deal.
Also, all the disappointing results throughout the season made many of our supporters, including me, believe that a Conte departure might be the best option. Fixtures like Bournemouth, Watford, and City away are just a few examples of the many depressing results from an overall disappointing season. For me, losing our 28-year record to Tottenham at The Bridge was the final straw.
Yet despite all the shocking results from this season, Conte managed to lead us to FA Cup glory at the end of it. No matter what anyone thinks about Conte, he is a winner, and that is the most important quality in a manager. There is nothing wrong with wanting attractive football, but at the end of the day, I would rather win trophies.
I believe history will be kind to Conte and his legacy at Chelsea. I will always have a fond memory of Antonio, and I will never say a bad word against him. You are welcome back at Chelsea anytime, Antonio! Goodbye and thanks for everything. Up the Chels!
Written by Nick Blakely – @CFCNicholas
