Chelsea Owner Roman Abramovich is one of the world’s wealthiest and most connected men. He’s also very enigmatic, aloof and secretive. Abramovich does not do interviews, and the Russian oligarch keeps much of what he does very close to the vest. Which would be expected you’re someone who’s close to both Russian President Vladimir Putin and POTUS son-in-law/Senior Advisor Jared Kushner.
When someone at the top of the global food chain such as Abramovich comes to see you, it’s huge news, and what he has to say, critically important. Today, during his weekly news conference ahead of the Super Sunday clash against Manchester United, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte revealed that his boss came to visit a Blues training session this week.
“Yes, Mr Abramovich was in Cobham on Sunday after the Bournemouth game to watch the training, to speak. But it’s normal, this,” Conte said on Friday.
“Honestly, we spoke about the Bournemouth game and then the first game against Rome. We spoke about this.”
Abramovich came to Cobham a day after Chelsea had won their third in a row in all competitions and at the time seemingly rid the air of negativity that was surrounding the club after back-to-back league losses and the 3-3 draw with Roma at Stamford Bridge.
Spanish publication Marca has already made claims Abramovich has already decided to sack Conte and is no longer on speaking terms with the Russian.
Obviously, the revelations made by Conte today discredit that narrative, but most people agree that Conte’s seat is warm, given how the defending league champions have already fallen nine points off the top of the table this early in the season, and Chelsea is certainly a “sacking club” reputation wise.
“In this moment, when you’re struggling, it’s important to show our character. To be strong. To face the problems in the right way. But I’m used, in my life, to doing this,” Conte said about his situation.
“I struggled a lot in my life, as a player and then as a coach also. My history, my story, tells you this.”
He then went on to add this about the topic of currently feeling any pressure, and if so, how much.
“I feel always the same pressure. The same pressure. Because, before the game, I feel the pressure to win. In every game. Last season it was the same. When you stay on top of the table you feel the pressure to win because you want to stay on top of the table.
“Above all for me because I’m a passionate man with a great enthusiasm. I need to feel this type of pressure. Yes, I like the pressure. I was born with the pressure.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now and Minute Media. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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