LONDON -- Antonio Conte dismissed reports that Carlo Ancelotti could replace him as Chelsea coach as "bulls---" and accused sections of the media of "a lack of respect" over suggestions that players have contacted former assistant coach Steve Holland to register their disgruntlement.
Speculation surrounding Conte's future at Stamford Bridge has intensified in recent weeks as Chelsea have endured a troubled start to the season, and a story in the Sun on Friday claimed that the Premier League champions have lined up Ancelotti as his replacement.
Another story earlier this week claimed that Chelsea players have texted Holland, who left Stamford Bridge to take up a role with England, to voice their discontent with Conte's training methods.
An incensed Conte said that Holland reached out to him to make clear that the story was untrue, and hit out at the media for involving his former assistant in the speculation surrounding his Chelsea future.
"I think around us there is a lot of bulls---," Conte said of the reports. "If I see the past it happened the same with a lot of managers. A lot of bulls---. They try to create problems between me, the club and the players.
"If someone is happy to continue to write this I think I answered very well in the past. I am answering very well about these different issues."
Chelsea's director of communications Steve Atkins interjected to call the Holland story "absolute nonsense," with Conte then adding: "I think this is a lack of respect. I can accept [if you] write that the club is ready to sack me, the story with the players [being unhappy].
"But to put another person in this way, I think it's incorrect. It's not good that this person has to send me a message to tell me 'I'm sorry, but this is not true. I'm sorry, if you want me to do an interview I'm ready.' Why put another person in this bulls---? Why? If you want to hit me, hit me. Don't put another person [in it] because this is incorrect and I hate this type of situation."
The ongoing speculation about his future has been unwelcome for Conte as he prepares his Chelsea team to face Bournemouth on Saturday. Victor Moses remains sidelined with a hamstring injury and N'Golo Kante is also out, though the Italian said his star midfielder is closing in on a return.
"N'Golo is still not ready," Conte said. "We have to wait and I hope to have him back for the Roma game. Danny [Drinkwater] played against Everton but he needs to find the right physical condition. The other players are available."
Saturday's clash with Bournemouth will pit Chelsea against former players Asmir Begovic and Nathan Ake, who both completed permanent moves from Stamford Bridge to the Vitality Stadium last summer.
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