IT NOW appears inevitable that Antonio Conte will take over as manager at Chelsea in the summer – but it has emerged that he will not have total control of transfers at Stamford Bridge.
The Daily Express reports:
“The Italian is expected to be announced as Chelsea‘s new coach in the coming weeks after the finals details are agreed on a three-year £4.75million-a-year deal.
“Conte, 46, who this week announced he would be leaving Italy after this summer’s European Championships, wants to bring Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini with him as Director of Football at Stamford Bridge.
“But like all other recent Chelsea managers, he will not have control over transfers – the club’s football board will continue to recommend and have the final say on incomings and outgoings.”
It may be unusual in England but the position of director of football is commonplace at many European clubs so Conte would be well aware of what it entails. It certainly requires a very close and trusting relationship between a manager and the club.
However, we think that, rather than taking the pressure off the manager by allowing him to focus purely on winning football matches, it does leave his hands tied to a degree.
It’s the manager who is ultimately responsible for performances on the pitch – he’s the one who is generally given the boot if things go pear-shaped.
Surely the manager must have the final say on whether a player joins – or leaves – the club. He is the one who devises and develops the tactics and selects the team on match days and therefore knows exactly what he’s looking for in a potential signing and whether that player would fit into his plans.
Chelsea supporters, would you like to see Conte have the final say on transfers?
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Football Advisor – bet with confidence.
