LONDON — Antonio Conte insisted he was "very angry" at Chelsea's efforts this season, adding that he was still doing everything in his power to reverse the club's deteriorating fortunes.
Chelsea have won just six of their six games in all competitions in 2018 and have fallen to fifth place in the Premier League, with just seven games left and eight points left in fourth-placed Tottenham, leaving their hopes for next season's Champions League almost over.
Over the weekend, Gianluca Vialli claimed that at the end of the season, his longtime friend and former Juve team-mate Conte "can't wait to leave Chelsea", a comment that further exacerbated fans' perceptions that the Italian has begun to consider his next job.
But at a news conference on Friday, Conte insisted that was not the case. "People who know me very well, know that I'm very angry at this moment," he said. "I feel sorry for this situation.
"Those who know me well know that I'm trying to make a difference because I have a lot of responsibility." I have a great responsibility for my work, for my family, for everything.
"When I go to my home, I'm not very relaxed, but I know I gave everything, I gave everything for the club – 120 per cent per day. Sometimes it's difficult to fall asleep with these types of problems.
For the first time since last summer, the Italian has been frustrated by Chelsea's incompetence and reluctance to sign his preferred target in the transfer market, which has fuelled his speculation.
However, Conte clarified that he would not hold a grudge against Vialli.
"With Gian Luca, we played together at Juventus for many years, he was my captain, we won the Champions League together and I think he is my friend," he added.
"My former teammates, I think they're friends. With GianLuca, we went to dinner once last season and then I didn't talk to him.
"Sometimes it's hard to understand why there's such a comment, but I do, because he's a journalist now, he has to broadcast the news to sky and try to talk about my situation."
"On the one hand, I can be disappointed, but I respect him because he's a journalist and he's doing his job." He tried to express his opinion. That's not my opinion.
Conte has also reiterated his desire to see the final year of his Chelsea contract, although he is widely believed to be leaving Stamford Bridge this summer.
"The people who live around me are very clear about my intentions — to stay, to stay here, to continue my work here," he insisted.
"It's a fact. You'll see. ”
