A football reporter for Sky Sports Italia has turned the air blue on Twitter over speculation Antonio Conte is heading for an early exit from Chelsea.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte
Rumours have been rife that the former Italy and Juventus boss will leave Stamford Bridge after an indifferent start to the season.
The Blues have reportedly told Sky Sports that the rumours are ‘absolute nonsense’.
Going away? Conte rumours have been rife
Bookmakers don’t agree with several leading firms having suspended betting on Conte leaving Stamford Bridge on Thursday, just three months after taking over after last season’s fall from grace.
Chelsea’s sentiments were echoed on Twitter by Sky Sports Italia and Guardian reporter Fabrizio Romano, but using slightly more colourful language.
“Antonio Conte is not going anywhere,” Romano said on Twitter.
“Reports about him set to leave Chelsea are bullshit.”
Conte talk ‘nonsense’ say Chelsea, according to Sky Sports
So there you have it, in no uncertain terms, the Italian looks set to remain in West London, for the time being at least.
Things don’t get any easier for Conte, though, in the fiercely competitive world that is the Premier League.
He is preparing his Chelsea team to face Leicester City on Saturday, the side who so famously deposed them as champions last season.
‘Had it up to here’ – can Italian turn mixed start into title charge?
What the rumours do prove is that despite having a contract until the summer of 2019, a mixed start leaves him exposed to the axe just like Jose Mourinho before him.
It is all a far cry from the start of the season when Conte oversaw three consecutive wins in charge of the Blues. But defeats to rivals Arsenal and Liverpool have seen the dark clouds begin to gather again over Stamford Bridge.
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