Conte on his future, Barkley, Mourinho, talking to Alexis Sanchez and why it’s a bad time to play Leicester

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte spoke about a number of issues at a media conference ahead of the game against Leicester. Here’s some of what the Italian had to say. 

Conte on Leicester

“I must be honest, we have to face the worst team for us in this moment. Leicester is a really good team, a strong team in great form and tomorrow it will be very difficult for us to win the game. We have to pay great attention.

“Maybe Leicester are the worst team to face in this moment for us.”

On reports he could be replaced at the end of the season

“Everything is possible. I have another year’s contract with this club but as you know very well in football everything is possible – one moment you stay here and another moment another person replaces you in your job.

“For this club it is normal for the manager to have this type of situation. This is the history of the club.

“Something is strange if after the first game we lost against Burnley the press pressed quickly for me to be sacked for another coach. I think in other clubs this doesn’t happen.

“You must trust in your work. I trust in my work and what we are doing, but in football anything can happen. We must be ready.

“I’m happy and am enjoying my period here. It wasn’t easy – it’s not simple for me, my first experience in another country. But I am enjoying my experience.

“I have another year on my contract and I think the club has to decide (if it wants) to send me away.

“We have started big work here together with the players and when you start work you need time to improve your work and to create a solid basis.

“But in football now it is very difficult to predict you can stay for many years with one club, especially now in England.

“Before, a manager was in charge for many years. Now in England you have this habit to sack a manager early.”

On Ross Barkley

“I must be satisfied for his physical condition. For sure he is working very hard and I think maybe in the next game against Norwich he could be available. I hope so.

“He is not ready 100% but I think he can start to help us for the rest of the season.”

On Baba Rahman possibly returning to Schalke

“Baba is recovering from a bad injury and I hadn’t the possibility to see him in training with us – only once or twice – because he wasn’t ready to have full training sessions.

“Now he’s recovering and I think it could be an interesting option for the player to try to recover with them.

“For sure Baba is recovering. He is not ready in this moment, otherwise Baba Rahman would stay with us and be in my squad.”