Antonio Conte has called on Chelsea supporters to show "great respect" to Arsene Wenger after the Frenchman confirmed his intention to leave his job as Arsenal manager.
Following a 22-year reign in North London, the Frenchman is to pass on the baton to a new face when the current campaign comes to a close.
Jose Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp are among those to have paid their respect to Wenger ahead of his emotional departure, and Conte has also added kind words for a man who he believes has helped to shape the game.
"I think we must pay great tribute to Arsene Wenger for his career in Arsenal," he told reporters at Friday afternoon's press conference. "In him and Sir Alex Ferguson we are talking about the last two managers to stay for such long time in a club. Arsene Wenger was working 22 years for Arsenal, I think that's great. It's fantastic. It's a fantastic story.
"He won a lot with this club and for this reason I think he deserves a great tribute for his career. I think Arsene is one of the managers that has had a great influence in football, because in every moment he tried to play his idea of football. To play good football, to play creative football, to play offensive football. And I think he deserves a great tribute also for this.
"He deserves great respect. Not only from Arsenal supporters, but from the whole world of football. He deserves great respect. I repeat we are talking about one of the greatest managers in the world with an important career in Arsenal.
"He deserves a great tribute for his career and it will be very difficult to see in the future another manager to stay such long time at the same club. I think Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger they were a really good story for football. Now it will be very difficult to see again another situation like this."
Conte has himself had to fend off questions regarding his Chelsea future, with Maurizio Sarri reportedly being lined up to take over in the summer.
Daniel Lewis
