Under-pressure Chelsea boss Antonio Conte "eager" to return to his old job as Italy coach
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Antonio Conte hopes the Italian Job will provide an escape route out of Chelsea.
The new head of the Italian FA, Roberto Fabbricini, claimed Conte was “eager” to return to the national team.
The Blues' boss is under increasing pressure at Stamford Bridge after the humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth.
His fate could be sealed by four huge upcoming matches in the next six weeks — two Champions League encounters with Barcelona, either side of trips to Manchester United and Manchester City.
(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
Although a report in Spain on Thursday claimed former Barca coach Luis Enrique could be installed in the Blues' hot-seat before the first leg against his last employers on February 20.
Later in the day, the Italian FA confirmed Conte, who led Italy to Euro 2016, is on a short-list to return to his former post, along with Roberto Mancini, Carlo Ancelotti and Claudio Ranieri after their failure to qualify for this summer's World Cup cost Gian Piero Ventura the role.
Fabbricini said: “The names are the ones you know.
(Image: Getty)
“Mancini was in Rome but we didn’t contact him, Conte seems eager to wear the national shirt again, Ancelotti opens and closes the door and Ranieri isn’t out either.
“No one is in pole position.”
His assistant, Alessandro Costacurta, who said he will start approaching candidates for interview with a view to a summer appointment, added: “Conte, at the last Euros, performed a sporting miracle” to get the Azzurri to the quarter-finals.
(Image: Getty)
Chelsea insisted on Thursday that it was business as usual after backing the head coach in the transfer window and with the club still in three competitions.
But there is increasing irritation in the boardroom about recent poor results and Conte’s repeated public criticism of club policy.