You can't blame Chelsea fans for not wanting to think of life after Antonio Conte just yet, with the Italian delivering the Premier League title to Stamford Bridge at the first attempt and beginning his second season in charge in impressive form, despite an indifferent summer which involved what many people believed to be questionable transfer activity.
Just over a month into the 2017/18 campaign, however and Tiemoue Bakayoko and Antonio Rudiger have bedded in almost seamlessly and Alvaro Morata is the joint top scorer in the Premier League. So far, so good.
A minor setback on the opening day of the season against Burnley aside, things have gone pretty swimmingly for the Premier League champions, this season and a 6-0 Champions League victory against Qarabag two weeks ago proved that Chelsea's dominant form isn't just restricted to the domestic scene, either.
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Conte has barely put a foot wrong since taking over as Chelsea manager, last season. Images: PA
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But Blues fans perhaps shouldn't get too comfortable with the former Juventus and Italy boss in their dugout, with Conte confirming in a recent interview with Radio Anch'io Sport that he doesn't intend on remaining in England for too long, instead preferring a return to Italy over an extended stay in the Premier League.
"I miss Italy, there is no doubt.
"It is not in my mind to stay abroad for a long time. Italy is my country. I will return, I don't know when but that is the aim.
"China? No, absolutely not. Bundesliga? It's always difficult to predict the future. Let's just say that a coach is a temporary worker."
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Of course, Conte isn't making plans not involving Chelsea at the moment and his job isn't in any imminent danger of being terminated by Roman Abramovich, but it doesn't seem as though the Italian wishes to build a dynasty at Stamford Bridge.
Despite his success at Stamford Bridge, Conte isn't looking at remaining in London for too long. Image: PA
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Then again, as Conte points out, the coach is a temporary worker and no club are employing managers long term to the degree of a Sir Alex Ferguson or Arsene Wenger, any more (apart from Arsenal, obviously, although it seems to be very much to their detriment) so the Italian manager's words aren't exactly shocking, especially given the fact he left his beloved Juventus voluntarily, so it's doubtful he'd remain in west London for too long.
(H/T Metro)
Topics: Chelsea, Football, Antonio Conte