And the Italian has dropped the biggest hint yet he will sign a a
bumper new contract with the Premier league champions, despite interest from
Inter Milan.
Conte insists he is happy at Chelsea and wants to stay long term, and
his family are currently house hunting so they can join him in the UK.
The Blues boss said: “I don’t smoke, but I’m hoping to smoke a cigar
if we win and to drink a bit of champagne. I’m ready to do this.
“My situation is very clear. I have two more years contract with the
club. Then, if the club give me the possibility to extend my contract, for sure
I am available to do this.
“We have the same idea about the future. The way we have to do things
together, to improve the squad and the team.
“But, I repeat, I’m happy for this season and am happy to stay here. I
hope to stay here for many years.
“We have to finish this season, but we’ve started to work for the next
season. I think that we have the same point of view.
“For sure, we’ll try to improve our squad for next season because we
have to face an important competition in the Champions League.
“But I think the club and me, we have the same point of view on
this.”
Chelsea great
Gianluca Vialli recently claimed he would love to see Conte stay at the Blues
for 25 years.
The Blues boss said: “It would be great to do this. I know very well
that in this modern football it’s very difficult to stay a long time at the same
club.
“But for sure if I have the opportunity to work for many years, you
can improve your work
“For a coach, that’s the best solution - to stay for a long time in
the same club and build, with the club, something important. But you know very
well that modern football is dangerous.
“Our job depends a lot on the results. I think the only way that I
know, to convince the club I should stay a long time, is to work very hard with
my players. For sure, that is my hope.”
Chelsea are massive favourites to beat an injury-hit Arsenal team,
but Conte has warned his team not to take anything for granted.
He said: “We will see if we are able to exploit this opportunity. But
it’s not important about missing one or two players.
“It’s important to play this final with the right anger, the right
will and desire. A good organisation also is very important, but it’s not
enough.
“We must put our desire on the pitch. Our desire must be greater than
theirs.”