Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola has urged his former club to resolve their differences with Antonio Conte.
The West London club are widely expected to part company with their manager this summer, who has failed to back up his excellent first season in charge of the Blues where he won the title at the first attempt.
Having won the Premier League last season, Chelsea have struggled to match last year’s achievements, and actually are five points outside of the Champions League qualification places in fifth position.
Blues boss Antonio Conte has been linked with a return to Italy, as well as taking over at French League leaders PSG, but speaking on to TalkSport, Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola said he hopes his compatriot stays at Stamford Bridge.
Asked if Conte will leave this summer, Zola told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast: “I really hope not, because I think he is an asset for the club.
“He’s a good coach, without doubt – he’s actually one of the best around.
“At the moment there are certainly some problems.
“If the club and manager want to continue – and I think that will be good for the club – they should sort them (the problems) out because the competition out there is so incredible.
“There is no league in the world where you see teams get so much better every year – it’s so competitive off the pitch and on the pitch.”
Zola, who wore the number 25 shirt with distinction at Stamford Bridge is an absolute Chelsea legend, whose words should not be taken lightly, having won two FA Cups, one League Cup, one UEFA cup winners cup and one UEFA Super Cup during his seven year spell at the club.
