A professional footballer using emojis to express his disapproval of his manager on his Instagram Story. How very modern.
That’s certainly what Chelsea’s Willian appeared to be doing after his side’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United in Saturday’s FA Cup final. The Brazilian, who has been linked with a move to United recently, did feature at Wembley – albeit as a stoppage-time substitute.
Afterwards, he dropped a not-so-subtle hint that he and manager Antonio Conte aren’t exactly the best of pals at this moment in time. Posting an image of the Chelsea team gathered with the trophy to his Instagram Story, Willian has placed three trophy emoji over Conte.
Have a look. It’s creative and also gloriously petty.
Fortunately for Willian, it doesn’t seem like he’ll have to give much in the way of an explanation to Conte. Assuming he himself isn’t sold in the coming weeks, it still seems likely that Conte will be leaving Stamford Bridge.
The Italian might well have guided Chelsea to a Premier League title during his debut season in England, but their fifth-place finish this year – and the failure to qualify for the Champions League which comes as a result – looks to spell the end for him.
Owner Roman Abramovich is famously trigger-happy (not literally) when it comes to getting rid of his managers and reports on Sunday have suggested that the win at Wembley on Sunday won’t be enough for him to hang on to his job.
Willian has been named as part of Brazil’s World Cup squad for Russia this summer, although Chelsea teammate David Luiz – also believed to have fallen out with Conte – has not made the cut.
He was signed for Chelsea by Jose Mourinho who is believed to be keen on taking him to Old Trafford later this summer, with some reports suggesting he may even be willing to let Anthony Martial head in the opposite direction.
