There was a ton of Chelsea transfer talk in the press conferences that followed Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid in the International Champions Cup. Both Chelsea Manager Antonio Conte and Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane were quizzed about a few transfer rumors in the media room at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
We sort through all of the Chelsea transfer narratives, including the responses from both coaches below:
–Conte didn’t exactly put to rest speculation that Diego Costa could be on the move saying: “I speak for today, and today Costa is a Chelsea player. Tomorrow, if you ask me will he remain with us, I don’t know.”
Here’s a link to much more on that situation.
-Zidane was asked about Chelsea forward Eden Hazard who scored two late goals in the game, massively window-dressing the final score of what was a truly lopsided game. The Los Blancos but refused to suggest Real Madrid were looking to sign him.
“There are rumors about tons of players potentially linked with this club,” he added.
“He is a very, very good player. Obviously all clubs want the best players but he is a Chelsea player.”
-On Oscar, Conte evaded the question by answering in vagaries about the preseason. Conte said that decisions on certain players will be made after further evaluation in preseason:
“right now, all 29 players are Chelsea’s players. After this period, I will speak very clear with my club and there players that will stay with my club, and others that (will) get away, it’s football.”
-Conte was asked about the club’s reported pursuit of Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, but the manager wouldn’t bite, saying that he won’t talk about players from other teams.
-Regarding Alvaro Morata going to Chelsea, or anywhere else for that matter, Zidane dismissed that narrative. The Frenchman insisted that Morata is at Real Madrid to stay.
“We are delighted to have him back, back to his original home. He will remain a Madrid player.”
Here’s a link to much more on that situation.
Here’s the link to postgame press conference audio from both managers.
-When Conte was asked during his postgame news conference if Matt Miazga would remain in Stamford Bridge this season, Conte said:
“About [Miazga’s] situation, I prefer to speak with the club. With the club, we are agreed that after this period, and after I have seen the situation with the players, we must take together the right decision for the player, for the club. It’s important this.”
Miazga himself said that he hasn’t heard anything about plans to send him away from Chelsea this season on loan.
Here below you’ll find audio from both managers, first Zidane, and then Conte:
https://soundcloud.com/p-m-banks/140130-0493mp3
https://soundcloud.com/p-m-banks/antonio-conte-post-real-madrid-press-conference
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication.
He also consistently appears on numerous talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram