The output of Antonio Conte suited him, as well as to Chelsea, but showed himself neither in good light | Dominic Fifield | Soccer

G Despite all the quarrels that took place behind the scenes and the discontent that spread on both sides, it was necessary for the divorce to end up being rather unworthy. . Antonio Conte finally took leave of Chelsea on Thursday, with news of his departure inevitably fled from his native Italy. The club's official statement will follow at some point, possibly burying the bad news under the confirmation of the appointment of Maurizio Sarri as his successor. Storytelling felt accessory for a moment. And that, in truth, summarizes everything.

Their relationship was relatively fleeting and distinctly acrimonious, embittered by almost transboundary policy disagreements, for all the important silverware to be celebrated. Perhaps Conte had been wildly unrealistic in his claims, presuming that there would be a return to the lavish expense of Roman Abramovich's early ownership, especially while he was trying to build on the unlikely success. this first campaign in 2016-17. ] Maybe the club could have relaxed what had actually become a one-in, one-out approach on the signatures and added more depth before the return of last season in the Champions League. In the current state of affairs, neither party would ever agree on the identity of those who were going in: one wanted an experience that was paying off; the other favorite younger talent that could be developed, or players in a range £ 30m-40m.

This brief and icy handshake between the head coach and the extremely influential board member turned de facto football director, Marina Granovskaia, into The Royal Box at Wembley in moments of dizziness before Chelsea hoisted the FA Cup 55 days ago provided a snapshot of how all this had become dysfunctional. Tale, who had never been comfortable with the lack of direct contact that he had with Abramovich, announced the post-match that he was going to never change. "When you decide to take a coach like me, you have to know who you are taking," he said. "I can not change my personality."

His warlike style would be maintained and another year of feuds with the board of directors, infecting the collective mood, whether it be played in public or in private, was unthinkable. It was hoped then that the two sides could quickly separate, Conte courted and claimed by a suitor – Italy, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli – and the club effectively assuring a successor.

was the cleanest separation, and more in keeping with most of the management changes that Chelsea has spurred over the past 14 years. As it turned out, the following weeks brought only inertia, the kind of which can drag on in a new campaign.

Virtually all communication has stopped. The head coach was waiting for the ax to fall at any time, but was greeted rather by a radio silence. There was a theory that the club would take revenge after Conte had submitted them to a period last summer when his phone rang when it became clear that the season would not be decorated with a procession of his favorite newcomers. Such sulking did not go well. The apparent intransigence of the hierarchy on the payment of compensation, either to Conte for the last year of his contract of 9 million pounds per season, or to Napoli for the pending successor, Maurizio Sarri, seemed sometimes defeatist. But the antipathy was deep and reciprocal.

The club was tired of Conte 's reproaches and felt aggrieved by the impromptu text that he had sent to Diego Costa last summer, informing the attacker that he was not there. was more in his plans. Costa was still likely to move on in 2017, but they suspected that disposable SMS – a nudge in the ribs for such a successful disruptive attacker – had undermined their bargaining position with suitors and cost them millions of pounds. sterling. A price of 57 m at Atlético Madrid for the return of Costa. Regardless of the reason for delays, and Abramovich's priorities elsewhere given his visa problems, the resulting feeling of drift has been damaging.

Uncertainty seized the club. The first team players who were not involved in the World Cup were given notice of a little over a week that they were expected for the fitness tests before the beginning of the season, July 7th. The 14 at the World Cup had been left equally puzzled as to how long their extended breaks would once their nation was eliminated. Victor Moses suggested that "he could receive a phone call tonight to tell me how long I have retired" the night Nigeria came out to Argentina and had no idea who would oversee the sittings

. Tale. Still, the Italian preseason program, compiled on the contingency that he would still be in charge, has returned the team for testing on Monday, not on Saturday. He had conscientiously responded reluctantly to his Cobham office, but did not really have any influence until the players came to the stands 48 hours later. By Chelsea's standards, everything went uncomfortably messy.

Tale had always insisted that it would be professional no matter what summer, but he did not really want to stay at the helm. Relationships had become tense with a number of players during a difficult second season, while the intensity of training had only been slightly altered despite the cluttered list. David Luiz was apparently embarrassed by a thigh complaint during the last months of the campaign, but had barely introduced after openly questioning the tactics. Willian played Instagram after the FA Cup final victory over Manchester United and, on a photo of the triumphant team on the field at Wembley, covered Conte with three trophies emojis. There was no real prospect of seeing the Brazilian under the Italian regime. Courtois has her own problems with the club and is likely to move this summer, regardless of the director's identity, but, most alarmingly for Chelsea, Eden Hazard was not fully satisfied in the last quarter. Retaining the playmaker, rather than the head coach, was still the club's priority.

The potential for all descending into wickedness was obvious and finally, a separation of ways benefited everyone. Conte can now enjoy a sabbatical year, living the last year of his Chelsea contract. The club, still fiercely ambitious, but operating in a different market from Manchester clubs, is waiting to fight for the honors.

They will turn to Sarri, whose arrival will come with the considerable sweetener of the appointment of Gianfranco Zola in some He hopes his trophy will be as miraculous as the success of Conte in the Premier League at his first season.

This trophy remains his greatest triumph in London: having hoisted a team that finished 10th the year before and restored them to the top. remarkable. Briefly remember the champagne-themed celebrations at Hawthorns after the title had been set and it looked perfect. In reality, once the effervescence was flat, it was no more than a mirage.