Antonio Conte Explains why Nemanja Matic is Training Alone at Chelsea Amids Manchester United’s Interest

Antonio Conte admits he wants ‘total control of the dressing room’ at Chelsea after forcing Nemanja Matic to train alone and ordering Diego Costa to find a new club. Matic has played no part in Chelsea’s pre-season tour of the Far East as he wants to leave Stamford Bridge in order to join Manchester United.

Costa, meanwhile, has been told by Conte that he is not part of his plans next season and is expected to re-join Atletico Madrid.

And the Chelsea manager has highlighted the important of keeping his authority over the players.

‘The coach must be in total control of the dressing room otherwise there is anarchy,’ the Italian told the Evening Standard.

‘If you lose control, anything can happen and probably you will be sacked in one or two months. If you are lucky three months.

‘It is more difficult. When I was a footballer, the club had more power. If you give education and respect, you must demand education and respect. It is logical that when you must be tough, you must be tough.

‘Then it is right when you have 22 players, it is right to have the same behaviour with all the players – not because one is young and they are different. That is not good.

‘If a player makes a mistake, a young player or an old player, you must underline it and help improve the player to help avoid the mistake in the future.

‘Otherwise, if I go and am very strict only with the young player and not the old players, it is not the right way to have respect from the dressing room.

‘The players are at the same level and sometimes I demand more from the old players than the young players – they have more experience to teach the young players the right behaviour.’

Credit: Metro