Chelsea boss Antonio Conte appeared to criticise the club’s ability to sign the players he had requested.
Conte, who guided Chelsea to Premier League glory in his first season at Stamford Bridge, was speaking to Sky Italia after his side’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal at The Emirates on Wednesday night.
Asked if he hoped to bring in any new players to the club during the January transfer window, the Italian made it clear that he was far from optimistic.
“I do not aim high with my requests,” he is quoted as saying by Football Italia. “Especially as in my history I’ve rarely been given the players I asked for. I always ended up at clubs who were running an austerity programme,” he added, also a reference to his departure from Juventus.
“I just try to do my work. If someone arrives, good, if they don’t, then that’s fine too. I have to continue my work, either way.”
The comments will cast fresh doubt on Conte’s future at Stamford Bridge, with reports claiming other high profile European clubs are considering making him an offer. He has been linked with a return to Italy with AC Milan, who have recently appointed Gennaro Gattuso as their manager.
Bayern Munich are also thought to be interested after sacking Carlo Ancelotti earlier in the season, with fresh reports claiming Paris Saint-Germain are keen to replace Unai Emery with Conte in time for the 2018/19 campaign.
