Antonio Conte on Claudio Ranieri sacking: 'This is the risk of our job'

Simon Johnson25 February 2017

Antonio Conte sympathises with Claudio Ranieri following the Leicester City manager's sacking but accepts the high-risk perils of a job in football coaching.

Ranieri was dismissed from his role at the King Power Stadium after a poor run of form has left the Foxes in danger of relegation, less than 10 months on from guiding the team to a historic Premier League title.

Conte is on target to win his first top-flight title in England, having opened up a 10-point lead at the top of the league, and acknowledges a change in results can see the most secure of jobs become untenable.

"In Italy we are used to being sacked and live with this situation," he told reporters.

"It is not easy but, knowing this, you are stronger and try with all your strength to put [in] 120 per cent because you know your life could be very short.

"Now I see in England it is increasing. In the league and also in the Championship I see a lot of managers are sacked.

"This is our job and the risk of our job. We know this and we must work very hard to have good results, to try to keep our job but for sure our job is a job with great risk."

Chelsea are back in action on Saturday, hosting Swansea City, having watched title rivals Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham all compete in European competition.

Much has been made of Chelsea's fewer commitments this season and the impact on their title tilt, but Conte feels a lack of European football has only been beneficial when he settled in and now it is a punishment.

"The real advantage was before," he said. "When you arrive in a new team and you bring your ideas, your philosophy, your method of work - you need double time.

"You need time to work all week and this is the real advantage.

"Now, honestly, to watch Champions League or Europa League on TV is not good for me or the players because we want to stay there and play for something important.

In Pictures: Leicester title celebrations

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Both competitions are important. The Champions League is top and the Europa League is also a good competition and to stay and watch the others play the competition is not good.

"We have this [because of] the bad season last season. We must pay [for] last season."

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