ANTONIO CONTE knows his reward for FA Cup glory today could be the sack.
Chelsea’s boss also claims he has been a “hero” even though the club surrendered their Premier League title and missed out on Champions League football for next season.
The Blues face Manchester United at Wembley with the Italian’s Stamford Bridge future at risk due to his tense relationship with club bosses.
Conte said: “Sometimes you can win but the club decides to sack you anyway because they have a reason to do this. There are people to judge your work.
“But it doesn’t depend upon lifting a trophy or winning a league. I think this is different.
“As you know very well, our job is very difficult.
“I don’t think I’d be the right person to say, ‘OK, if we win I plan this situation,’ or if not, ‘We plan another situation’.
“I’m not interested in this. I’m interested in winning the final. This is the most important thing for me, for my players.
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“I’m very pleased with my work, because I worked better than last season.
“And, for sure, I worked harder than last season.
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“I don’t know if something has changed that last season we were heroes for Chelsea’s fans and now our stance has changed. I don’t know.
“In my soul and heart, I’m always a hero because I gave 120 per cent to solve the problems.”
Conte has 12 months left on his £9.6million-a-year deal and said: “I have a contract and I’m committed.”
A bitter row last summer with striker Diego Costa ended with the player being sold back to former club Atletico Madrid.
There have also been run-ins with senior players and poor league form as Chelsea finished fifth.
Conte, 48, could go some way to making amends with victory today over ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho — having lost last year’s Cup final 2-1 to Arsenal.
Conte has compared Chelsea’s title- winning romp last season to driving a car at 180 miles an hour.
Given that he drives a Toyota Yaris, that speed is the stuff of dreams.
But it does not require a degree in motor mechanics to see Blues boss Conte’s point.
Last season, his team was wildly over-revving but somehow got to the end of the journey as champions.
This season, however, the engine is paying the price.
Finishing outside the top four, and hence not qualifying for the Champions League, has left today’s FA Cup final as Chelsea’s last chance to salvage something from their campaign.
Conte said: “Last season was a wonderful season, we did fantastic work with the players.
“You have to understand when you win and the way you win — if you’re going at 180mph or if you are winning at normal velocity and don’t risk burning your engine. When you win, you must understand which is the best way to improve.
“Last season we won. Now, this season, we finished fifth.
“We have to play another final in the FA Cup and we must divide the responsibility with the club, the manager and the players in the same way, and then try and gain experience.
“If you are clever, if you are intelligent, you understand what is wrong and what is right and you to try to improve.”
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