READY TO FACE THE SACK
Conte throws dare to Chelsea board
ANTONIO Conte told the Chelsea board after defeat by Watford on Monday night: sack me if you want. The Blues were subjected to an embarrassing 4-1 loss, their second defeat inside a week to leave Conte hurtling towards the exit door.
The champions have now conceded seven goals in their last two outings after also going down 3-0 at home to Bournemouth last week to put their chances of Champions League qualification for next season in serious peril.
And in an emotional postmatch press conference, Conte — who questioned whether his players had big enough personalities to pay for the club — insisted he does not fear the axe and even challenged the club to pull the trigger if they believe he is not good enough.
“No, I’m not worried. I'm not worried about my job,” said Conte. “I work every day, and I give 120 per cent. Okay? If this is enough, it’s okay.
“Otherwise, the club can take a different decision. But I’m not worried. Tomorrow is another day. I can be the Chelesa coach or not. Which is the problem? My soul is clear.
“I go to sleep without a problem that maybe, maybe, I could do this or that. I try to do everything. If it’s not good, the club can make a different decision. Life goes on.
“To play football in a great club, it means you must have a personality because it’s simple to play when there is the confidence.
“Especially in this type of moment, you can see who is (ready to play) for a great club. To play with personality and also to risk something.”
Conte is virtually certain to depart his role as Blues manager before the start of next season.
The Italian, privately, is resigned to his fate despite recent comments suggesting he would be open to extending his deal.
Last week, the club's hierarchy were minded to make the inevitable change at the end of season — even after the humiliating 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth last Wednesday.
With Chelsea still in charge of their own fate in the race for a top-four position, still in the FA Cup and a Champions League last 16 tie against Barcelona on the horizon, the board felt Conte still had enough enough credit in the bank to see him through until the end of the season.
But the humiliating result at Vicarage Road leaves owner Roman Abramovich with a big decision to make ahead of Monday’s clash against West Bromwich.
Sportsmail understands there are growing fears from within the Blues hierarchy that Conte has lost the dressing room and the knock on impact that would have on their attempts to secure Champions League qualification for next season.
The manner of the loss to Watford would only have served to have strengthened those concerns.
Indeed, players are convinced Conte will not be at the club next season, while some individuals will not be overly upset to see the back of the Italian.
Members of the squad have grown tired of Conte’s “bad moods” at the training ground.
They have complained of monotonous training sessions. There is also a feeling among members of the squad that the training schedule has not been scaled back enough this season given their involvement in the Champions League.
On suggestions he is losing the dressing room, Conte answered: “But do you think that a club can decide to sack a coach if there is not the support of the players?
“You think that the players have this power? Yes? This is wrong. This is wrong. If this happens, okay.”
However, Conte also delivered some stinging criticism to his players, who he said “played with fear.”
“I try to continue to work to try to improve different aspects of my players, but today I think our performance was very poor,” added Conte.
“For sure I have to take the responsibility because maybe I made the wrong decision for the starting XI.
“To play football in a big club it means you must have personality. It is simple to play when there is the confidence.
“In this type of moment you can see who is (made) for a great club, to play with personality to risk something.”
Chelsea’s task wasn’t made any easier when Tiemoue Bakayoko was sent-off after just half an hour for two quickfire bookable offences.