Chelsea vs West Brom
Will Antonio Conte still be in a job at Chelsea if the Blues lose to West Brom on Monday night?
After a 4-1 hammering at Watford last week, can anyone be confident of a Blues win?
The build up to the West Brom game is again being clouded by analysis of Antonio Conte’s future at the club.
Conte has a contract until the end of next season, yet many believe he’ll be gone sooner than that.
In this weekend’s Sunday Times, the now ‘old’ rumours that Luis Enrique is being lined up as Chelsea’s next boss, and Marco Silva could get the job until the end of the season, are again recycled.
Antonio Conte: ‘Don’t be stupid’
The big story for the Sunday Times is that Antonio Conte appears to have fired another warning shot.
As for his reaction on stories linking Chelsea with a managerial change, Conte warned the club to avoid doing something “stupid” like sacking him.
On the current situation at Stamford Bridge, the Italian commented:
There are two ways. There is a stupid way and an intelligent way.
TOMORROW'S FRONT COVER | May scores two in hard-fought win over Wales | Conte: Chelsea would be 'stupid' to sack me | Mourinho: Maybe I have to cry like Pep#tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/wpDQKdWczC
— Sunday Times Sport (@ST_Sport) February 10, 2018
Who will Conte pick to face West Brom?
Despite a run of poor form, Conte hasn’t altered his team very much in recent weeks.
It is likely that Eden Hazard will play as a false 9 once again, much to the displeasure of many Chelsea fans.
Alvaro Morata is still struggling with an injury but it is still unlikely that we will see Olivier Giroud make his first Chelsea start since arriving from Arsenal.
Tiemoue Bakayoko saw red in Chelsea’s 4-1 loss at Vicarage Road on Monday evening and Cesc Fabregas is likely to replace the Frenchman in central midfield.
Andreas Christensen looks to be recovering well from his injury but Conte surely won’t start him this weekend.
Thibaut Courtois has been appalling in recent matches but it is extremely unlikely that Conte will revert to a second choice keeper when his job is on the line.
Also see: Marcos Alonso update before Chelsea vs West Brom.
Bookies slash odds on shock Antonio Conte replacement at Chelsea.
