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Antonio Conte might leave Chelsea to coach AC Milan

By Anthony Barbagallo

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Antonio Conte, Manager of Chelsea looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League Group C match between Chelsea FC and Qarabag FK at Stamford Bridge on September 12, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Antonio Conte, Manager of Chelsea looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League Group C match between Chelsea FC and Qarabag FK at Stamford Bridge on September 12, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /
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Chelsea fans could be facing their worst nightmares as Antonio Conte could be heading back to Italy to coach AC Milan. 

Reports from the Daily Express claim that AC Milan is looking to replace their manager Vincenzo Montella with Conte – that is if Montella fails to secure three points in the Serie A fixture against Sassuolo this Sunday. Both the Italian managers have had unsatisfactory starts in their respective leagues, therefore testing the patience of each club owner.

Milan’s manager, Vincenzo Montella, is on the brink of being dismissed after the team’s disappointing performance in this season’s Serie A and UEFA Europa League. The 43-year-old Italian has one last chance to remain Rossoneri coach when his men take on a struggling Sassuolo outfit. Defeat in the Emilia-Romagna region tonight could see the former Fiorentina manager lose his job with the Milanese side – tarnishing last season’s triumph over Juventus in the Supercopa Italiana.

Poor recent results, including the two goalless draws against AEK Athens in the Europa League and the 2-0 loss to rivals Juventus, has seen the 18-time scudetto winners plummet to 8th place on the Serie A table. The inconsistent performances come after the Milanisti spent €230 million on 11 new players – a whole new starting XI – in the last transfer window. With the pressure now on Montella to deliver, the door has opened for new candidates to take over at the San Siro.

With Conte failing to emulate Chelsea’s title success in the English Premier League last season, the former Azzurri boss now finds himself treading water, especially at a club that has a history of sacking managers the following season. The Blues’ fans have experienced mixed fortunes and emotions so far this season – different to when the team claimed its sixth English trophy in top-flight football last season.

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Chelsea’s embarrassing 3-0 loss to AS Roma in the Champions League last Tuesday night only piled more misery on Conte, the players, fans, and owner Roman Abramovich. Conte didn’t face the task of competing in any European tournaments in his debut season with the Blues, however, it has been evident that his side has failed to balance Premier League and Champions League fixtures at the same time. The ex-Juve midfielder often struggled to propel the Bianconeri beyond the group stages of the Champions League during his time in charge with the Turin side.

Antonio Conte has regularly mentioned that he intends to return to Italy, but not making it clear when he will return to his home nation. If the new Chinese owners of Milan are considering to sack Montella then it looks like Conte will be the popular alternative for the Rossoneri.

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While the situation might put smiles on the faces of the Milanesi, it will create a rippling effect at Chelsea, therefore leaving the London side in a predicament it found itself in after Jose Mourinho was sacked two years ago.

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