Antonio Conte hit back at reports that suggested Chelsea's players are upset with his training methods and that Carlo Ancelotti could be brought back to the club.

“There is a lot of (expletive),” Conte said. “If I see the past it happened the same with a lot of managers. A lot of bullshit. They try to create problems between me, the club and the players. If someone is happy to continue to write this I answer very well in the past. I am answering very well about these different issues.”

One report claimed some players contacted for Conte's former No. 2, Steve Holland, to express their dissatisfaction with Conte's demands in trainings.

“This is a lack of respect,” Conte said. “I can accept to write the club is ready to sack me and the story with the players. I can accept this but to put another person in this way I think this is incorrect and it is not good that this person has to send me a message to tell me: ‘I am sorry but this is not true, I am sorry, if you want to do an interview, I am ready.’ Why put another person in this (expletive)? If you want to hit me, hit me. This is incorrect and I hate this type of situation.”