Antonio
Conte says he took unexpected reports which suggested he was about to leave
Chelsea "with a smile".
Several leading bookmakers suspended betting on the Italian leaving his role
at Stamford Bridge just three months after he arrived in London, with
reports in several national newspapers claiming owner Roman Abramovich had
held emergency talks with club directors about the head coach.
However, Chelsea told
Sky Sports News HQ that these reports were
absolute nonsense and Conte joked in his pre-match news conference ahead of
the Leicester game, live on
Sky Sports 1HD, that he was trying to find out
who was betting on his departure.
He said: "I'm trying to find who put the money on but it is very difficult!
"It is very difficult to talk about this situation because I am focused. I
am focused about my work, about improving the team and I have a good
communication and relationship with the club. It's nothing. I take this with
a smile.
"We are working very hard to change the situation of the past, and the last
season, and we are trying to build something important for the present, for
the future, and you can build only through the work and with time.
"But, I repeat, it is important to be focused in our target now."
Conte praised compatriot and Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri after he led
the 5,000-1 outsiders to the Premier League title last season, succeeding
2015 champions Chelsea.
"I was very happy, not only me, but the Italian people that Claudio won a
fantastic title," Conte added.
"He had a great celebration in Italy. He is a good manager, a good man and I
have a good relationship with him."
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