New-look Antonio Conte says he won’t shave all season if Chelsea keep winning
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Chelsea manager Antonio Conte shocked reporters when he turned up to his pre-match press conference with a new look, sporting a freshly grown beard. The Italian boss was almost unrecognisable, not his usual clean-shaven self for the first time, though his decision to put away the razor was not to support Movember.
A playful Conte revealed that his wife had asked him to try a slightly more rugged look – and he’s hoping his new beard turns into a good luck charm, in which case he won’t shave all season! Asked about his beard ahead of Saturday’s trip to West Brom, he explained: ‘My wife said, just try, try for once, to stick with the beard.
‘This is the first time. We can see tomorrow if this beard brings luck or not. This is the first time I try to change my look, but only because of the decision of my wife.’ Asked if he’ll keep it until Chelsea lose, Conte laughed out loud and continued: ‘Yeah, I hope at the end of the season I’ll end up with a big beard!’
Chelsea take on West Brom at the Hawthorns, the scene of last season’s dramatic Premier League title win, though Conte has a few injury concerns. Michy Batshuayi faces five games on the sidelines and Victor Moses still hasn’t recovered from a hamstring problem, but David Luiz will be welcomed back into the side after being dropped against Manchester United last time out.
Chelsea 2017/18 Fixtures
West Brom (A) – Sat 18 Nov FK Qarabag (A) – Wed Nov 22 (Champions League) Liverpool (A) – Sat 25 Nov Swansea (H) – Wed 29 Nov Newcastle (H) – Sat 2 Dec Atletico Madrid (H) – Tue 5 Dec (Champions League) West Ham (A) – Sat 9 Dec Huddersfield Town (A) – Tues Dec 12 Southampton (H) – Sat Dec 16 Bournemouth (H) – Wed Dec 20 (EFL Cup) Everton (A) – Sat Dec 23 Brighton (H) – Tues Dec 26 Stoke City (H) – Sat Dec 30