Conte walks to the exit, surprising anyone

LONDON (Reuters) – The question after the departure of Antonio Conte from Chelsea on Friday was not "where did everything go wrong?" But rather "why did it take so long?"

Relations with the club hierarchy of West London have seemed strained, it is the least that we can say, since last year, while its Stamford Bridge's departure had been marked for months.

Tale was expected at the end of last season after Chelsea, who won the 2016-17 Premier League title in his first stellar campaign in charge, finished fifth and failed to qualify for the Champions League.

Winning the England Cup against Manchester United last May, former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho was a mere consolation to 30 points behind the Manchester City champions.

The reports that Conte was about to leave had begun to gain ground long before, with a bitter defeat at Watford in February, after Conte urged the council to end the uncertainty by confirming their confidence in him.

The Italian had already publicly criticized the club's transfer policy and warned, as early as August of last year, that his team was not strong enough.

The media also portrayed a man in disagreement with the director Marina Granovskaia, one of the most loyal employees of Russian owner Roman Abramovich, following the surprise departure of head of transfers, Michael Emenalo, in November latest.

The volcanic intensity of Conte also alienated some insiders, including the main players whose discontent filtered.

"I do not think Antonio helped himself, if I'm honest, in the way he came across," said former Chelsea midfielder Dennis Wise, on Sky Sports television.

"You are looking at his character and his disappointment when the transfer window was produced.This was not the Antonio enthusiast we saw in the first season."

The The fact that he was still stationed this week, overseeing the pre-season preparations at Cobham's training ground, was surprising.

Even then, after the Italian media reported that He had been sacked, it took another day to the club to confirm what everyone already knew.

The British media point out that the probable severance pay of the 48 years, who reported 9 million pounds ($ 11.81 million) in the year of his contract, was one of the stumbling blocks.

Chelsea, who also led long negotiations with former Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri, whose appointment is imminent, was hoping little Maybe Conte would find another job before acting.

NOMINATIONS CHOOSE

Sarri would be the twelfth managerial appointment of Chelsea, permanent or not, since Abramovich acquired the club in 2003 and that they did not come or went to good market.

According to media reports, Conte's departure will bring the amount Chelsea spent to £ 85 million to pay off sacked managers – almost the record that Manchester United paid in 2016 for French midfielder Paul Pogba.

Friday's Chelsea statement that they were "separated" from Conte was brief, and merciless, but she emphasized what the club had accomplished before relations deteriorated.

"We won our sixth league title and our eighth FA Cup." In the victorious season of the title, the club set a record of 30 wins in a season of 38 games in the Premier League, as well as a A record of 13 consecutive league wins, the club said.

Statistics will also show that Conte's Premier League victory rate as manager (67%) is second only to Pep Guardiola (72%). Manchester City, which has at least 20 matches.

The Tale average of 2.14 points per game in the Premier League has improved only by Alex Ferguson (2.16) and Guardiola (2.34).

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