Antonio Conte’s first season in charge of Chelsea has been celebrated both often and loudly by the Blues in the bar of the Transfer Tavern, with the Italian looking like delivering a Premier League title to Stamford Bridge.
Despite a brief sticky spell before changing to a 3-4-3 in October, the former Juventus coach has endeared himself to our west London locals thanks to his winning formula and passion touchline antics, though a tweet from Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol indicates the ex-Italy chief wasn’t the first choice in SW6.
Well, according to Sevilla manager Jorge Sampaoli. The Sky journalist has revealed the Argentine claims he was the first choice to replace Jose Mourinho on a full-time basis this summer, though reportedly decided his English language skills were not good enough to move to the Premier League.
Sevilla manager Jorge Sampaoli favourite for Barcelona job. Said he was first choice for Chelsea job last summer but English not good enough
— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) March 1, 2017
He replaced Unai Emery in La Liga after roaring success with the Chilean national side – winning a Copa America title on home soil – and has now been linked with a move to Barcelona at the end of the campaign.
A popular figure amongst the hipsters in the bar, many of them feel he could forever represent a missed chance for the Blues, though Conte is by no means a bad reported second choice.
Will Sampaoli manage in the Premier League? Let us know below…
