By Tim Stannard

Conte faces finale as Simeone waits in Chelsea wings?

Friday sees the two managers involved in the English FA Cup final sharing their thoughts on the big game – and it’s fair to say that neither are happy-go-lucky, giddy characters going into the season-ending clash at Wembley Stadium.

The last time Jose Mourinho cracked a smile while on football duty was when dropping Iker Casillas to the Real Madrid bench, back in the day. It was a nonchalant shrug-fest again from the team’s hotel in London when asked if the campaign being branded as a success, depended on winning Saturday’s final. The answer was a stern ‘no’ – “I'm not going to change my analysis of the season because of one match, not at all."

Antonio Conte also has a few clouds hanging over him after a dreadfully disappointing season with Chelsea which followed winning the EPL title. A general lack of enthusiasm from the Italian all year has the media classes cackling that Saturday’s game will be his last in charge of Chelsea. However, also speaking on Friday, Conte said that he had a contract with the club and no plans to break it. Which means, waiting to get fired after losing 5-0 to Manchester United, then.

Tune into the Locker Room at 7:30PM ET / 4:30PM PT when the Locker Room will talk about where it all went wrong for Chelsea this year…but where it could go right under Diego Simeone.

Zizou teases Neymar talk

Coach Zizou is now just toying with us. Speaking on Friday ahead of Real Madrid’s final league game of the season against Villarreal – although technically speaking the last La Liga clash Real Madrid took seriously was in October – the Frenchman promised that he would soon talk about the Neymar to Madrid rumors.

When probed on the ongoing stories, Zidane said that his focus for the next ten days would be the Champions League final. “We’ll talk after that,” said Zizou, well aware that he will be on vacation and almost certainly nowhere to be found.

And there’s news on Cristiano Ronaldo’s battle to be fit for the 150% level promised by Zidane. He’s currently at 120% apparently.

Buffon to join project PSG

TRANSFER TRACKER!

And here’s a good one. Gigi Buffon is set to step away from Juventus after his last game with the Old Lady on Saturday – live on beIN SPORTS at 8:55AM ET / 5:55AM PT – but the footballer could certainly be staying in the limelight with rumors of a two-year deal being offered by…drum roll…PSG. That’s someone that could certainly keep Neymar in check just with a withering gaze.

A transfer story to look out for in the battle between Lazio and Inter in the battle for the final Champions League spot in Serie A. Basically, it’s a winner takes all, although a draw is also enough for Lazio. The fun here is that Stefan de Vrij is currently a Lazio defender and keen to play in the finale. However, the Dutchman is moving to Inter this summer, having already signed a contract with the Milan outfit. So…an Inter win would be quite handy. Just saying.

Plantini drops jaws in World Cup confession

FIFA SCANDAL!

It’s been far too long before that headline has been dusted off, but with the World Cup just under a month away, there are no plans for Sports Burst to put it back under the dust covers. This one is amazing. Michel Platini has described how “shenanigans” were deployed to ensure that there was a France v Brazil final in the 1998 World Cup final, held in France.

The former UEFA president – and very much disgraced figure now – said that the two teams were deliberately separated in the draw to ensure a glamor final should both sides keep up their end of the bargain by winning. "When we organized the schedule, we used a little trickery," was the revelation to France Bleu from Platini, who was the joint-head of the organizing committee for the tournament.

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The life philosophy of Sports Burst is that if you are not upsetting someone, then you are not trying hard enough. Sports Burst is a daily trawl and troll through the morning's sports news to bring you fact-nuggets to make you both smile and swear. Hopefully at the same time.