Chelsea
legend Ron Harris believes incoming boss Antonio Conte has the
determination, drive and competitiveness to turn the club into winners
again.
This time last year, the Blues were seven points clear at the top of the
table on their way to securing the Premier League title.
But after a dreadful start to the defence of their crown, manager Jose
Mourinho was sacked and Guus Hiddink brought in to steady the ship until the
end of the season.
The Dutchman has carried out his brief and on Monday it was confirmed the
interim boss would be replaced by Italy coach Conte after the European
Championships this summer.
The former Juventus captain and manager has been linked with the position
for a number of months, and the confirmation of his appointment has filled
former Chelsea defender Harris with hope for the future.
"He has got Italy into the European Championship finals and his spell at
Juventus was very good, so hopefully he can do the same thing at Chelsea,"
he said.
"I always say to people I was very competitive - maybe that's what Chelsea
need. If you look at his track record, he has done very well. He wants to be
a winner.
"People only want to know winners. If I asked you to name who won the
Premier League last year you would know that - but not who ended seventh or
eighth.
"You wouldn't know the quarter-finalists in last year's FA Cup either -
people want to know winners and he reminds me of that type of fella."
Conte arrives in England with a reputation for being a stern taskmaster and
fierce competitor, while the Italian has shown he is not afraid to make
tough decisions.
And one of his toughest could be to sort out the future of captain John
Terry.
The 35-year-old announced in January he would end his long association with
the club at the end of the campaign - but Chelsea have insisted there is
still a possibility of a contract extension.
Harris, who is Chelsea's record appearance holder with 795 games, believes
the collective strength of the group of players is more important than any
individual.
"I am still confident if John stayed there next season, he is still 70 or 80
games short," said Harris, who won the FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup
Winners' Cup during his 19-year stay at Stamford Bridge.
"But I don't want to get involved in whether they should keep him if it's
the club's policy that if people reach a certain age... like has happened to
other players.
"There will always be a Chelsea with or without Ron Harris, Frank Lampard
and John Terry. Maybe things might change now that a new manager has come on
the scene.
"We'll have to wait until nearer the time to see whether John will be at
Chelsea next season, or looking for another club."
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