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For the third time this season, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte will be up against his countryman Claudio Ranieri, and he has so many good things to say about the former Chelsea manager who led Leicester City to the title last season.

Conte said: “Claudio is a really great manager, a great man. I am proud to know him and sometimes to call him to speak. He did a great job last season and not only then.

“I knew him when he was coach in Italy, at Chelsea, at Valencia. He’s a great coach and he deserves this [award]. He did a great job. I’m pleased for him.”