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Betting companies have Chelsea manager Antonio Conte high on the list of Premier League managers to be sacked in coming months, after his side capitulated in two big games against Liverpool and Arsenal.
Conte has played down the rumours, suggesting it has been a difficult time for him to re-organise the team after Chelsea endured a dismal run last season.
Whether he has the answers is debatable.
Despite a strong start to the season with three straight wins, Chelsea has shown glimpses of last season’s frailties in their two defeats thus far.
While some have attributed the issues to the club’s lack of conscious business in the summer transfer window, others have questioned Chelsea’s vulnerable defence in John Terry’s absence. Nemanja Matic has become a constant source of scrutiny after every defeat and Deigo Costa seems to be the sole silver lining of the season.
What stands out is whether Chelsea’s owner, impulsive Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, will run out of patience with Conte if things do not improve in the upcoming months.
Time has never been on the side of Chelsea managers ever since Abramovich has taken over the reins. In 2011, Andre Villas-Boas was given the security of building a promising new team.
Yet after a frustrating beginning with Champions League elimination looming, he was sacked within seven months.
Roberto Di Matteo became the first manager in Chelsea’s history to lift the Champions League trophy in 2012, yet when his team was relegated to the Europa League the following season, he was let go.
Jose Mourinho endured a similar fate. Despite winning the Premier League in 2014-15, he was sacked following a poor start to the next season’s campaign.
This season for Chelsea, things have been topsy-turvy, much like Villas-Boas’ sole season in 2011-12.
Conte needs to bring consistent results and to keep his side within touching distance of a top-three finish if he wants to prolong his career at the Bridge.
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