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PARIS, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 27: Coach of Bayern Munich Carlo Ancelotti answers to the media following the UEFA Champions League group B match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Bayern Muenchen (Bayern Munich) at Parc des Princes on September 27, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 27: Coach of Bayern Munich Carlo Ancelotti answers to the media following the UEFA Champions League group B match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Bayern Muenchen (Bayern Munich) at Parc des Princes on September 27, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

Carlo Ancelotti 'Standing By' to Replace Antonio Conte as Chelsea Manager

Rory Marsden
Oct 26, 2017

Former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is reportedly the first choice to take over from Blues boss Antonio Conte, whose future at Stamford Bridge remains in question.ย 

According toย Matt Heath-Smith inย The Sun, Ancelotti wants to return to the Premier League following his dismissal from Bayern Munich. Heath-Smith also reportedย Conte, 48, is not expected to see out the rest of his contract, which runs until June 2019.

Planning has already started for his succession, and fellow Italian Ancelotti is "standing by" to take over having been made aware of Chelsea's interest, Heath-Smith noted.

Conte won the Premier League last season, his first campaign in charge at Chelsea, but he revealed recently in an interview with RadioUnoย that he misses Italy and "will be home before long"ย (via theย Guardian's Simon Burnton).

Even more significantly, perhaps, the former Juve boss and the Chelsea board areย at loggerheads over a lack of summer recruitment and a relatively poor start to the 2017-18 season, perย The Sun's Neil Ashton and theย Sunday Times' Duncan Castles.

Chelsea's Italian head coach Antonio Conte gestures during the English League Cup fourth round football match between Chelsea and Everton at Stamford Bridge in London on October 25, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Glyn KIRK / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with
GLYN KIRK/Getty Images

After nine matches of the new leagueย campaign, Chelsea are three points worse off than they were at the same stage last season and already sit nine points behind table-topping Manchester City.

The Blues are not in a disastrous situation, but defending their league title already looks a tough challenge, and Conte's future is far from certain.

Ancelotti, 58, could be an ideal replacement. He enjoyed a successful spell at Stamford Bridge between 2009 and 2011, when he won the Premier League and the FA Cup.

He was sacked by Bayern at the end of September despite having led them to the Bundesliga title last term and recently returned to Stamford Bridge to watch Chelsea take on another of his former clubs, AS Roma, in the UEFA Champions League:

Thanks to the league-and-cup double he won with Chelsea in 2009-10ย Ancelottiย is a popular figure in west London. His reappointment would likely be well-received by Blues fans should Conte leave the club.

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