RUUD GULLIT says Antonio Conte is not to blame for Chelsea missing out on the Champions League.
Instead he pointed the finger at Blues owner Roman Abramovich for his hire-and-fire-’em approach to managers.
And he also believes winning the FA Cup today would only be like sticking a small plaster on a ‘big wound’.
Rumours persist that boss Conte will be out of the door in the summer.
Gullit, 55, said: “The main problem at Chelsea is that the coach’s future is always in doubt in the second year.
“Even if you win the title in the first year it is almost guaranteed you will be sacked the following season.
“Winning the title is almost like signing your resignation letter. You might as well leave straight after holding up the trophy.
“I don’t know what the reasons for this are — but I know it creates instability and I know it happens every time.
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“The only one not to be sacked in his second season was Claudio Ranieri — and he didn’t win anything!”
Chelsea face Manchester United at Wembley on Saturday looking to end the season on a bright note after finishing fifth in the Premier League.
Gullit, who will be working at the Cup final as a pundit, said: “The fact that Chelsea have missed out on the Champions League is a huge problem for them, especially with the budget they have.
“They would have needed to qualify for the Champions League to claw some money back. It is almost like a lost season for them, so while winning the FA Cup would be a plus, it would still only be like a little plaster on a big gaping wound.”
The Holland legend led Chelsea to FA Cup glory in 1997 but was replaced by Gianluca Vialli less than a year later, in his second season, but before Russian Abramovich took over.
He added: “I still think Chelsea have good players but, as ever, the worst part about the club is the rumours that keep coming out about the coach’s future.
“Let me tell you that, as a coach, that is not helping you at all.
“So I don’t blame Conte so much for the way things have gone.
“There has been too much unrest at the club again this season.
“It started way back in the summer with not getting new players and that led to rumours Conte is going to leave. That is not good.
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“The ones to blame are the people responsible for these rumours starting, the ones who have caused these problems.
“You just don’t need that at a football club and it has not helped the team at all, especially the ones in the locker room who don’t play.
“They suddenly become a disruptive influence the moment they hear the coach could be about to leave.”
l THE FA Cup final will be across BBC TV, radio and online from 2pm.
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