Conte is still expecting to be sacked by Chelsea before the season starts

Antonio Conte has clashed with Chelsea over pre-season plans and the date the players are due to resume training even though he is not expected to return to Stamford Bridge this summer.

The Times has learnt that a member of Chelsea’s technical staff emailed the players who have not been at the World Cup asking them to report to the club’s training ground on Saturday and Sunday for fitness tests, with Conte responding by saying that he is still the manager and does not want the players back until next Monday.

Conte is expecting to be sacked with Chelsea having lined up fellow Italian Maurizio Sarri to replace him, but he has yet to be told his fate by the club. His reply to Chelsea’s