Chelsea Manager Antonio Conte met the media a few hours ago to preview Sunday’s blockbuster Premier League fixture at Manchester United. We have video of the media session for you here below via YouTube.
There were a whole host of topics covered in this news conference, including: the verbal spat with United manager Jose Mourinho, whether or not he will shake his hand on Sunday, a team injury/fitness update, the challenges of going against Paul Pogba, the team’s confidence after playing well versus Barcelona, what it would mean to sweep United this season and much much more.
Here’s the whole session, which runs about 19 minutes:
Conte says that he expects to see Pogba back in United’s starting XI, and that United’s dropping him would be great for his side.
“We are talking about a top player, about a fantastic player,” Antonio Conte said of Pogba.
“My expectation is to see him on the pitch. Then if he stays out it will be better for us.”
Asked how he got the best out of Pogba during his time managing the player at Juventus, Antonio Conte said:
“Every coach has to find the right way to manage him. Pogba is showing in United as well that he’s a top player. My focus is only for Chelsea, not the other team.”
Odds: Chelsea 5/2, Draw 23/10, United 13/10
Chelsea starting XI prediction: go to this link
Man United starting XI prediction: go to this link
Injury Report for both teams: go to this link
Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte press conference videos: coming soon
Prediction: United 1, Chelsea 0
Feel free to post your own Chelsea and/or Man United starting XI predictions, as well as your best guess as to what the final score will be.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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