Chelsea boss Antonio Conte to axe goalkeeper coach Christophe Lollichon after Thibaut Courtois row
Former Italy manager will bring in Azzurri coach Gianluca Spinelli after Lollichon-Courtois relationship broke down last season
ANTONIO CONTE has won his first big battle at Chelsea.
The new Stamford Bridge chief WILL be allowed to bring in goalkeeping coach Gianluca Spinelli from the Italian national team.
And that means the Blues are all but certain to hold on to Thibaut Courtois.
One of the main reasons Courtois has been seeking a move back to Spain is because of the breakdown in his relationship with current coach Christophe Lollichon.
Conte, having spoken to the Belgian keeper after his appointment was confirmed, informed the Chelsea board he wanted to keep Courtois and to replace Lollichon with Spinelli.
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But the Italian, whose side will travel to Austria and the US for pre-season, was told in no uncertain terms that Lollichon, mentor to former Blues ‘keeper Petr Cech, would be going nowhere and no more new backroom staff would be allowed.
Now Chelsea bosses appear to have backed down.
It remains unclear whether Lollichon will be leaving or will be asked to accept a different, lesser role at the club.
But sources insist Spinelli will follow Conte to Stamford Bridge.
Courtois’ hopes of a move to Real Madrid or Barcelona always looked optimistic.
His likely decision to stay at Chelseas, though, will push No 2 Asmir Begovic closer to the exit door.
Begovic wants first-team football and knows his opportunities will be even fewer in the coming season because the Blues will not be in European competition.
Everton is one possible destination for him, but relations between the Blues and the Toffees are pretty sticky because of last summer’s tug-of-war over John Stones and ongoing tension over the future of Romelu Lukaku.