Conte: My hardest season

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte claims this season will be “the most difficult” of his managerial career.

Chelsea won the Premier League title last season, in Conte’s first campaign at the helm, but the Blues’ preparations for 2016-17 have been overshadowed by a perceived lack of transfer activity, prompting talk that the former Juventus and Italy boss was considering his position.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte claims this season will be “the most difficult” of his managerial career.

Chelsea won the Premier League title last season, in Conte’s first campaign at the helm, but the Blues’ preparations for 2016-17 have been overshadowed by a perceived lack of transfer activity, prompting talk that the former Juventus and Italy boss was considering his position.

“For sure it will be the most difficult season of my career as a Coach,” he said at a Press conference for Sunday’s Community Shield clash with Arsenal.

“Why? There are many reasons and I haven’t a lot of time to explain a lot of these reasons. But I am sure about this. In this moment we have a small squad.

“Everyone can see the situation. It’s not because the coach shouts: ‘I want this’ or ‘I want this’. We hope to improve it because it’s very clear.

“But for me and the players the best way now is to be focused on the pitch and not to think of the other situation.”