Knee-jerk reactions might rule Twitter, but for now, Chelsea are showing a bit more maturity in handling the Antonio Conte situation. Despite back-to-back embarrassing defeats that left Chelsea with just two wins from ten games in all competitions, Antonio Conte will not be sacked this week.
We’re assuming the “this week” bit, as one would think that would’ve been sacked by now if Abramovich was as displeased as many claim him to be. Chelsea only play on Monday and have three days off at the moment, so things could still change, but for now, Conte looks safe.
Good.
He's not done yet
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 6, 2018
Antonio Conte will not be sacked after defeat at Watford.
Full story: https://t.co/n2PYY8coxG pic.twitter.com/Hh4eIchijq
As per that report, the BBC’s Simon Stone was told “very forcibly” before the Watford match that stories about Conte getting sacked if he lost to Watford were “nonsense”. Granted, not many would’ve expected such an embarrassing loss, but presumably the club’s stance didn’t change that drastically. “It was pointed out Chelsea were still in the top four, remained in the Champions League and were in the last-16 of the FA Cup,” continues Stone, which is exactly correct and is the bigger picture that we should not lose sight of in these trying times.
Antonio Conte not going to be sacked by @ChelseaFC in wake of last night's defeat. Club trying to calm situation down. Not losing by three goals would help with that obviously.
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) February 6, 2018
Unlike the untenable situation in which José Mourinho found himself back in December of 2015, with Chelsea just a point above the relegation zone, the Blues remain firmly in contention for the top four, sitting ahead of both Tottenham and Arsenal at the moment, have an eminently winnable tie for the FA Cup’s fifth round and face Barcelona in the first knockout round of the Champions League. While there is an obvious danger of Chelsea continuing current form and falling away without a whimper on all three fronts, we could also trust Conte to fix the situation, just like he did back in September of his first season.
Embarrassed twice in 6 days yet still the best team in London. Shhhhhhh pic.twitter.com/rCL6MxD3rH
— Jack Simpkin (@jacksimpkin9) February 5, 2018
Meanwhile, fresh rumors in Spain jumped on the situation by claiming that Luis Enrique was just a “step away” from the Chelsea job — literally, with rumors in Italy claiming that the former Barcelona boss was apparently in London — but later reports rubbished those stories. Luis Enrique is still in the midst of his sabbatical anyway, after stepping down from his post at the end of last season.
Chelsea downplayed talk that he is on the verge of taking Conte’s job while sources in Spain say that the former Barcelona coach, who is currently out of work, isn’t interested in taking any post until the summer.
-source: Evening Standard
As we often like to say around these parts, there will be better days.
Trust the work.
70.3% - Antonio Conte has the joint-best win rate of any manager in Premier League history (min 5 games), level with Pep Guardiola. Tension. pic.twitter.com/AxhxPCE5kw
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 6, 2018