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Recent rumours have turned our attentions towards current Monaco head coach Leonardo Jardim, who has emerged as one of the more realistic and strongest candidates for potentially replacing Antonio Conte this summer. He is in fact the preferred replacement according to our recent poll, and by a fair margin as well. But it would not be a proper transfer rumour if it did not contain a battle or a race or a fight. Arsenal are reportedly in the running for the 43-year-old as well.
Jardim may be ambitious and may be looking to move in the future, but for now, his attention is undivided, as one would expect of any good professional.
Monaco lost in the French League Cup final to Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 last month, and they have yet to secure a Champions League berth — they sit second with 67 points from 31 matches, 5 points above third place Olympique Marseille — so Jardim’s focus remains firmly on his immediate tasks.
“I am happy to be the Monaco coach. For me, the present is always more important and the present is the match on Saturday [against Nantes]. My head is only focused on that. I am happy to work at this club so I won’t comment on the rumours. I am not giving much importance to this news.”
-Leonardo Jardim; Source: Le 10 Sport
Undivided attention should be the name of the game at Chelsea as well.
Conte’s tenure may or may not be coming to an end, but that’s all the more reason to end the season on a high note. The top four may be gone (though mathematically not yet), but the Blues still have a good shot at a trophy in the FA Cup. So, for one more month, we must pay great attention, with great commitment, and fight and work and work some more in the final 8-9 games of the season.