Conte backs Chelsea decision to let Salah go

Antonio Conte has backed Chelsea's decision to let Mohamed Salah leave the club as former Stamford Bridge boss Jose Mourinho repeated his defence of his choice to let the Liverpool forward go out on loan. Salah, who has scored 43 goals for Liverpool during an astonishing season, tormented Chelsea while playing for Swiss side Basel and moved to Stamford Bridge in January 2014.

Conte says Mo Salah has improved a lot since he was at Chelsea, and that the experience in Italy was very important for the player. He says it is difficult to compare Salah now with back then. #SWACHE

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 27, 2018

Limited opportunities saw the Egypt forward join Fiorentina on loan a year later and then Roma on a temporary deal that became permanent. Mourinho, now at Manchester United but previously the manager of Chelsea, has been criticised for not keeping the 25-year-old at the club. "It's not so simple," said Chelsea boss Conte. "We have to compare Salah of four, five years ago, and not with this Salah now.

Former @ChelseaFC manager Jose Mourinho gives his take on the Blues' decision to sell @MoSalah. Read more - https://t.co/XpdvlSZaYw pic.twitter.com/PHu2VM3wgZ

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) April 27, 2018

"Salah in the present has improved a lot, he has developed his football a lot. I think the Italy experience was very important for him and now I'm sure that he's a different player, compared to the past. For this reason I think it's very difficult to have this comparison." Mourinho said Salah was not playing much for Chelsea and the club decided to send the player out on loan when he was in charge. "He went to Fiorentina, after that I left and I am not responsible for the process," he said. "Credit to him, Jurgen (Klopp), the team and I am very, very, very happy for him, that's why we keep a good relation.

Conte was the manager when Salah was sold. But there’s no point asking him questions about the sale either because we all know the Chelsea manager doesn’t have the final say.
But don’t let any of that get in the way of fabricating something else to have a pop at Mourinho for eh.

— Scott Patterson (@R_o_M) April 27, 2018

"He is a fantastic boy and he knows I have a great care for him and I'm really happy for the things that are happening for him. He more than deserved his player of the year (award)." With four games to go in the Premier League season, beginning at Swansea on Saturday, Chelsea are fifth, five points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, who play Watford on Monday.

Conte has leapt to his club's defence over their treatment of the striker https://t.co/1vAAkL0obE

— Goal (@goal) April 27, 2018

Asked if it was realistic for Chelsea, who play Manchester United in next month's FA Cup final, to overhaul Spurs and clinch Champions League qualification, Conte puffed out his cheeks. "Realistic? As you know very well it won't be easy, but at the same time we must try," said the Italian. "The only way to put a bit of pressure on Tottenham is to try to get three points tomorrow. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to put pressure on Tottenham." Conte said Brazil defender David Luiz, who has not played since February, could return before the end of the season.

Antonio Conte claims it is unfair to blame Chelsea for selling Mo Salah https://t.co/bparMDjHUx

— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) April 27, 2018