Restless Conte fights to avoid sophomore slump

Reuters

Fueled by the personal intensity that inspired Chelsea's return to the top, Antonio Conte has vowed to stop the champion becoming the latest victim of the English Premier League's sophomore slump.

A glance at recent EPL history has provided all the motivation Conte requires as the Chelsea manager plots his team's title defense, which gets under way against Burnley on Saturday.

The last two English champions both sacked their manager in the midst of title hangovers the following season, with Jose Mourinho axed by Chelsea in 2015 and Claudio Ranieri ousted by Leicester City last term.

Warning his players not to rest on their laurels, Conte said: "We know the next season will be tough.

"Two coaches have been sacked from Chelsea and Leicester after winning the league and I want to avoid this.

"The players want to avoid the bad season they had with Mourinho. We are working very well and we hope to find the best solution."

Conte's concerns have been exacerbated by a close season that has been far from plain sailing, despite his family vacation to soak up the Sardinian sun on a plush yacht last month.

Since being drenched in champagne by his jubilant players at the climax of their title-winning campaign, Conte has become embroiled in disputes with his employers over a new contract and transfer issues.

He was also drawn into a damaging feud with Diego Costa after telling the Brazil-born Spain striker via a blunt text message that he was no longer in his plans.

Costa embarrassed Conte by making the message public, in the process making it much harder for Chelsea to demand a hefty fee for the forward, who remained exiled from the squad throughout preseason.

As Conte's contract negotiations rumbled on and Inter Milan began to circle, reports emerged suggesting he might quit after just one season in frustration at Chelsea's failure to land his top transfer targets.

Extra recovery time

Aware Chelsea benefited from the extra recovery time afforded by its lack of European commitments last season, Conte wants to add depth to his squad for a twin assault on the league and UEFA Champions League.

Yet Manchester United stole a march on him to sign Everton striker Romelu Lukaku and while Manchester City has spent more than 200 million pounds (US$264.8 million), Chelsea seemed to be dawdling.

Appeased by Chelsea's decision to allow him to hire two new Italian assistants, Conte finally signed an improved deal, which at around 9.6 million pounds a year makes him the best-paid manager in the club's history.

Even so, it was notable his contract runs no further than the 2019 expiration of his original deal.

With a truce brokered, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich sanctioned the club-record 58-million pound signing of forward Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid and a 34-million pound deal for Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko.

AS Roma defender Antonio Rudiger cost 30 million pounds and veteran goalkeeper Willy Caballero, a free transfer from City, will provide cover for Thibaut Courtois.

But Nemanja Matic's 40-million pound sale to United leaves Conte short of back-up in midfield, while the ankle surgery that continues to sideline Eden Hazard further denudes Chelsea of attacking options.

Chelsea made an inauspicious start to the season on Sunday as Courtois and Morata squandered spot-kicks to hand Arsenal victory on penalties in the FA Community Shield.

Conte struggled to conceal his frustrations after the game, hitting out at referee Bobby Madley for sending off Pedro and refusing to answer when asked if he was satisfied with his squad.

Faced with steering Chelsea through such choppy waters, perhaps it is not surprising Conte has cut a restless figure since returning from his Mediterranean cruise.