Antonio Conte admits that he regrets allowing Nemanja Matic join Manchester United in the summer transfer window.
Nemanja Matic was part of the Chelsea team that won the Premier League title last season but he was allowed to join United in a £40m deal.
The Serbia international is expected to start against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday and Conte has claimed the transfer was ‘unfortunate’.
Asked about facing Matic, Conte said: ‘About this player I can talk only really well because he played with us last season.
‘I think he was one of the key players in winning the title. Now Matic, unfortunately, is playing for Manchester United. I wish for him the best. Not on Sunday, but in the future.’
Tiemoue Bakayoko, who was expected to replace Matic at Chelsea, has struggled to deliver in his debut season in England.
Conte said that Matic would be a ‘big loss’ to Chelsea last summer but refused to talk further on the subject ahead of Sunday’s clash.
Asked why Matic was allowed to join Manchester United, Conte replied: ‘In the past we have already managed this topic.
‘I don’t want to come back and speak about the past because I think it’s not important, not interesting for us.’
