A staff quest? This could be the name of the final chapter of the Antonio Conte and Chelsea story.
With all aspects almost settled and agreed between the two parties, now the only thing still not settled is the list of people who will follow the current Italian national team coach to London this summer.
Currently, Antonio has seven people with him, but, it seems, as revealed by Corriere dello Sport, that he will be allowed to take with him to Chelsea just three of them; in fact it seems that Roman Abramovich will impose upon him that he keeps four members of the current staff: Steve Holland, Guus Hiddink, the goalkeeper coach Christophe Lollichon and Chris Jones, the fitness coach.
Of course, Antonio will bring with him another Conte, his brother Gianluca, a sort of key assistant for him (while his other brother Daniele manages the contractual aspects and all the business of his brothers). One name will come from Mauro Sandreani, Angelo Alessio and Massimo Carrera as Conte's vice (in that order); another name between Paolo Bertelli and Costantino Coratti.
CANNAVARO AT LEEDS?
"Are you really thinking about Fabio Cannavaro as the new Leeds head coach?"
"Please don't joke around".
This is the concise exchange of lines between me and Massimo Cellino, the Leeds United chairman, before Easter. Nothing true about these rumours. What's the situation now? The intention is to end as best as possible a season that has not gone well and to start planning and working towards a better next season.
BERLUSCONI'S MIHA SNIPING
Let's say something about Silvio Berlusconi and Sinisa Mihajlovic: a very rough relationship the one between the Milan president and head coach.
Berlusconi had chosen Sinisa last summer convinced that he could be the right name to lift the enthusiasm again in the players and supporters after difficult years without even qualification for European competition.
He counted a lot on the nature of the Serbian, on his charisma and his skill of being able to manage the dressing room. But the results are not as good as expected and have undermined their relationship, to the point that the president doesn't miss any chance to snipe at Mihajlovic who, for his part, stays focused on doing his job.
Sinisa makes himself strong by the fact that the main part of the guilt for the bad season is an uncompetitive team, of players not at the same level of the top six teams in Serie A.
And if until a few weeks ago the destiny of Mihajlovic seemed already marked, now there's a factor that could change all the cards on the table. There is a Coppa Italia final to play: and if Sinisa was able to bring home the Cup it wouldn't be impossible that Berlusconi could decide to confirm him and give him a second chance.
