Chelsea

Cesc Fabregas: 'Antonio Conte is what Chelsea need'

By Liam Apicella, Features Editor | 18 April 2016

Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas believes that incoming head coach Antonio Conte possesses the credentials to return the club to winning ways.

Cesc Fabregas has insisted that Antonio Conte is the type of manager that the current Chelsea squad requires to reverse their recent slump.

As defending Premier League champions, the Blues were expected to battle for the top honours once again this season.

However, they spent the first half of the campaign just outside the relegation zone and despite making somewhat of a recovery in 2016, they are in 10th position with five matches left to play.

In December, manager Jose Mourinho paid the ultimate price for the collapse when he was sacked, with Guus Hiddink taking interim charge.

Conte was recently confirmed as Mourinho's permanent successor once his commitments with Italy at Euro 2016 are over in the summer, and Fabregas is confident that the 46-year-old will deliver the goods.

"I've been studying it a little bit and what he does. It is really interesting because you can see that he loves offensive football. His teams are so well organised," the midfielder told Sky Sports News.

"From what I have heard, he is a winner and a competitor. That is what we need - someone that is always on our backs, trying to push us and make us work hard.

"All I know is that he wants to win straight away. No more transition and no more excuses. He wants to win, win, win and for that we have to be prepared straight away."

Prior to his job with the national side, Conte guided Juventus to three consecutive Serie A titles.