Antonio Conte has used Chelsea as an example of a team that can use its money to win the Champions League, after it was suggested to him in his Tottenham press conference that ‘history could be more important than money’.
Last season in the Champions League, Real Madrid knocked out PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City to win their 14th European Cup. crown – the three richest teams in the competition – but Tottenham’s manager thinks you can lift the trophy if you ‘match money, investment and also the work’.
Under the Roman Abramovich era, Chelsea won trophy after trophy, including two Champions League triumphs and the Europa League.
Before the money flooded into Stamford Bridge in 2004, they were nowhere near the size of club they are now, as they have been the most decorated club in English football since the turn of the millennium.
Tottenham don’t have that spending power, but they did return to the Champions League this season and they are hoping for success under Conte.
Could Spurs do the unthinkable and win their first-ever Champions League trophy? Well, Conte was talking about money versus history and how the former can triumph over the latter.
On if history is more important than money given Madrid knocked out PSG, Man City and Chelsea last season: “But about Chelsea in the last ten years, they won it twice, the Champions League and one Europa League,” said Conte.
“Money and history. Together. But usually, a top team is also a top team because they have good money to invest. And then also become a top team.
“Chelsea was a clear example. In the past, before Abramovich’s era (lack of trophies). But it’s the same for Manchester City, no?! And before the new owners arrived, when an owner arrived with huge investments, then you create history.
“Then you probably lift a trophy if you match money, investment and also the work. Don’t forget the work. You can put in a lot of money, but you have to put in a lot of work.”
THOMAS TUCHEL SACKED
The ghost of Abramovich lives on because Chelsea have sacked Thomas Tuchel on Wednesday morning following their opening group game Champions League defeat to Dinamo Zagreb.
It’s a ruthless decision by the club’s new owner Todd Boehly because it’s the exact type of call Abramovich would be making if he was still in charge.
This will have a big bearing on what happens in the Premier League this season because Chelsea weren’t exactly showing signs that they were going to retain their Champions League spot.
Either way, whether it’s Graham Potter or former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, the next man in the Stamford Bridge dugout has to start winning pretty quickly, or else the owners will be dragging him out as quickly as Tuchel was sacked under this new Chelsea era.
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