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Antonio Conte has been targeted like a pigeon at Chelsea, says Alessio Tacchinardi

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Conte 'targeted like a pigeon' at Chelsea, says former teammate — Antonio Contes Chelsea trail fourth-placed Tottenham by five points going into Sundays match (Picture: Getty)

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has been “a target like a pigeon” this season, according to former Juventus midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi.

Conteled Chelsea to the Premier League title in his first campaign in English football in charge at Stamford Bridge, but now faces a battle to secure Champions League qualification with the west London club sitting in fifth place in the Premier League, five points behind their opponents this weekend; Tottenham.

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The Italian has regularly been publically critical of Chelseas transfer policy this season and Tacchinardi sided with his former Juventus and Italy team-mate in an ongoing power struggle with the Blues board.

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Honestly, I hope he leaves Chelsea because this season he has been a target like a pigeon, Tacchinardi told Omnisport.

Right since the first game they have started a media massacre against him.

Last year they let him work, but this time right from the start they put him against his own chairman for the transfers.

They have been heavy on a manager who took a side that ranked seventh and let them win the Premier League.

Conte has been reguarly linked with a return to the Italian national team coaching role which he departed in 2016 after the Azzuri failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup under the management of Contes successor Gian Piero Ventura.

And Tacchinardi suggested Contes mental health could be affected if he cannot resolve his dispute with Chelsea.

Antonio, to me, is one of the top three in the world but he needs to be super motivated, Tacchinardi added.

He needs to go happy and serene to the training ground and not bothered by all these things because he is passionate.

If you are passionate about your marriage and your wife is happy, it is all great, if you are passionate and your wife isnt happy, you sink into depression.

MORE: Chelsea vs Tottenham TV channel, kick-off time, date, odds and team news

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