Antonio Conte’s relationship with Chelsea’s key transfer negotiator Marina Granovskaia has become so fraught during this window that they often resort to communicating through Carlo Cudicini, one of the Italian’s assistant coaches. The Chelsea head coach aimed a barb at his employers after Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final defeat by Arsenal, claiming that they were responsible for “every single player” signed since the summer, and his relationship with many of the club’s executives appears increasingly fractious. Conte has had a difficult relationship with Granovskaia throughout his time at Stamford Bridge due to her penchant for driving a hard bargain and demanding value in the transfer market, instructions that come from the owner Roman Abramovich. The pair have clashed over a number of transfers, with Conte understood…

Source: The Times January 26, 2018 00:00 UTC