Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has suggested that his time at Stamford Bridge is coming to an end, regardless of what happens in this weekend's FA Cup final.
The Italian is hoping to end a difficult second season in English football on a high by lifting the trophy, 12 months on from falling short against Arsenal at the same stage.
Conte's Chelsea future has been in doubt for a number of months, and reports suggest that the Wembley showpiece will mark the end of his two-year stint at the club following his failure to finish in the top four of the Premier League.
Speaking on the eve of the huge showdown, the former Juventus boss acknowledged that he may now be living on borrowed time.
"There are other people to judge your work, to judge the season," he told reporters. "I don't think I'd be the right person to say: 'Okay, if we win I plan this situation,' or if we don't, '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. It's right to separate the two things because, otherwise, if you don't win it means you didn't work very well.
"It means that in France, in Italy, in Germany there is only one team that has worked well or one manager who has worked well. We must divide these two situations.
"And then, I think 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."
Chelsea have met United in the FA Cup final on two previous occasions, winning 1-0 in 2007 after losing 4-0 13 years prior.
Daniel Lewis
