ANTONIO WON’T QUIT BLUES DESPITE CRISIS

FROM BACK PAGE and have got no plans to sack him even after the humiliating defeat at Watford on Monday night. They also moved to deny reports from Spain that Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia has met former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique, who is the bookies’ favourite to succeed Conte. Conte, 48, who has 18 months left to run on his £9million-ayear contract, is under mounting pressure after voicing his frustrations about the club’s transfer policy and also their poor defence of their Premier League title.

But Chelsea’s view is that while they are still in the top four, still in the Champions League and FA Cup then they fully intend to stick with Conte.

Skipper Gary Cahill has admitted the players needed to “look in the mirror” for the solution.

Cahill said: “The players have to take responsibility because the manager has done an absolutely unbelievable job.

“This is the lowest I’ve felt for quite a while. We need to look in the mirror.”