Sloppy defeat signals end of Conte’s reign

THERE are few tougher places to be judged than the Nou Camp.

But this defeat will surely signal the end for Antonio Conte’s reign at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea crumbled and crashed out of Europe.

The Champions League was effectively Conte’s last stand and, now that has gone, Chelsea’s unforgiving, revolving door policy will usher out yet another manager.

Chelsea came up short – as they have on too many occasions this season – undone by basic mistakes, which may end up destroying the Italian boss’ legacy.

The discipline of last season’s titlewinning campaign has been replaced by slop pine sloppiness, which will be exposed at this level, especially when you are up against Lionel Messi.

Whether it was Andreas Cchristensen’s careless backpass in the first leg, Thibaut Ccourtois beaten at his near ppost or Cesc Fabregas losing popossession, they are all mistakes that they did not make last season. Thoseth errors destroyed a display that actually had some good moments – long after better teams would have folded, having gone behind in the Nou Camp.

Marcos Alonso hit the post, N’golo Kante went close, Eden Hazard and Willian stretched Barca with non-stop running.

But, ultimately, it was too little, too late from a team in danger of ruining the foundations that were laid down last season by Conte (above).

Or maybe it was a timely reminder that talk of an English renaissance in the Champions League remains premature because they are still a long way short against Europe’s very best.

Chelsea’s season is now in serious danger of unravelling as the FA Cup is their last hope of silverware, but they face a tricky trip to Leicester and they could struggle to even make the top four.

Now, the only game left in the coming days and weeks is to find the next Chelsea manager.