Chelsea must hold on to star players Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois maintains manager Antonio Conte, otherwise they run the risk of downgrading ambitions. The reigning Premier League champions are currently in third place, and set for a UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie with Barcelona.
In order for Owner Roman Abramovich to maintain his lofty view of his own club, they have to keep winning trophies and advancing further in Europe. That can only be accomplished if they hold on to their superstars.
Hazard’s current deal runs until June 2020, and the club maintains that they have not yet made a formal offer to extend him.
However, he’s been linked to Real Madrid, and that’s an opportunity which is almost always not one to be passed up. As for Courtois, he’ll enter into the final year of his deal next season, while stating publicly that a move to Spain remains very attractive to him, because that would give him an opportunity to spend more time with children. The two time reigning European champions are very interested in the goalkeeper Courtois as well.
Conte held his weekly news conference on Friday, and here’s what he had to say.
When asked about forward Eden Hazard:
“My answer is always the same: this is a private conversation between the club and the player, and the agent of the player. I’m proud to have him in my team, in my squad, and I’m very happy to work with him. He’s a really good guy and has a lot of space for improvement, to become one of the best players in the world.”
Conte regarding Thibaut Courtois:
“Courtois has a contract, also for next season, with the club. We are talking about one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Me and my staff are proud to have him as goalkeeper, and proud to create this synergy, this link between three fantastic goalkeepers with Thibaut, Willy Caballero and Eduardo.”
“I’m very happy to have these three players. For sure, I hope to have all the players for the next season.”
“You are talking about two important players for us.”
“Yes, for sure, it will be very important to continue with this type of player, especially if your ambition is to try and compete for something important.”
“It’s very important to try to improve your team, to strengthen your team, and not to sell the best players.”
It’s highly unlikely that Abramovich lets Chelsea become a selling club, and letting these two go would definitely send that kind of message.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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