Gary Cahill calls on Chelsea to end uncertainty over Antonio Conte's future after FA Cup triumph

This season Conte has directed several barbs towards Chelsea’s board, making his disappointment with recruitment plain, and he has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge

Gary Cahill celebrating at Wembley with the FA Cup (Getty Images)

Gary Cahill says Chelsea need to end the uncertainty over Antonio Conte’s future if they are to return to challenging at the top of the Premier League.

Conte has made his disagreements with the board plain and he has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge, despite adding the FA Cup to last year’s Premier League triumph on Saturday with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Wembley.

Asked what needs to happen this summer in order to return to climb back up the table, following a fifth-place finish this season, Cahill said: “Probably the uncertainty to be put to bed and whatever is going to happen, to happen.

“We certainly feel the sense of uncertainty. That is obvious to everybody in the last few months. What I can say is that the players do not have any impact on that situation. I am sure, I am sure if I was a guessing man that they would obviously have spoken between the club and the manager. Let’s see. I am sure the manager will make the best decision for himself and his family. I am sure the club will make the best decision what they feel.

“I am not dodging the question but it’s totally out of our hands. All I can say is that it has been a great finish. If the manager stays next year, then he stays on next year. If he doesn’t then he has gone away with a Premier League and a FA cup. That is something that everyone at the club can be proud of.

Despite missing out on qualification for next season’s Champions League, Cahill defended Chelsea’s campaign, insisting their achievements should be viewed in a wider context.

Cahill has returned to the England fold (Getty Images)

“Yes we would have liked the Premier League,” he said. “It was not to be. Man City were different class this year. We would have been liked to have been in the Champion League positions which I am sure that we will be back to.

“But surely you are judging careers, judging clubs over what they win over periods of years. You judge players week in and week out. And form can be up and down. But over the longevity of the career and over a long period of time you get a proper average of what is going on, and I think that the average at this club is very healthy.”

Last week Cahill earned a place in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the upcoming World Cup, winning back international favour having been dropped by Southgate for the most recent friendlies after losing his place in the Chelsea team, and admitted it is a “dream” to be selected for Russia.

“It is a dream but you reap your rewards. I feel that if you keep working hard there is an element of a number of things: you work hard, you have ability, you have character. All these things put together. In the season you keep quiet and take it on the chin. Good and bad. Keep plugging away.

“I would rather do my talking on the pitch if I can possible do that. When I was out of the team it was difficult to do that. Now I am back in the team it is a lot easier to do that, and on no bigger stage than [the FA Cup final].”