Countdown to crunch for Conte

ANTONIO CONTE’S Chelsea future could be decided over the course of 23 crucial days next month.

But with the Italian seemingly set on talking himself further into trouble at Chelsea with every public utterance, a possible route out of Stamford Bridge suddenly opened up last night.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has already been angered by Conte’s constant moaning over transfers, his handling of Diego Costa’s departure last season and also his treatment of misfit defender David Luiz.

Abramovich and the Chelsea hierarchy believe that Conte will force a departure at the end of the season and they would prefer to wait until then instead of axing him this season, to save money on any pay-off.

Now the Italian Football Federation have confirmed that Conte is on a shortlist of four names to take over as national manager in the summer, returning to the job he left in 2016 to join Chelsea.

Wednesday night’s disastrous 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth – the worst result in Conte’s reign – had thrown doubt on his immediate future, with the prospect of failing to qualify for the Champions League next year now a possibility.

Abramovich is still likely to hold fire but Chelsea’s last-16 Champions League clash with Barcelona, which starts with the home leg on February 20, is the beginning of a potentially crucial spell for the Italian. After that, Chelsea face away games at top-four rivals Manchester United and leaders Manchester City, before their trip to the Nou Camp.

It is a daunting spell and a poor set of results could persuade Abramovich to act.

Former Barca coach Luis Enrique is the favourite to succeed Conte, with former Chelsea defender Juliano Belletti alongside him.

Express Sport can reveal that Chelsea’s players felt preparations for the Bournemouth game were unusually chaotic for the normally meticulous Conte.

Belgian Michy Batshuayi was used as the central striker in sessions preparing for the game, even though he was likely to depart on deadline day, which he did.

Chelsea then played in a totally different system during the match, which players felt unsettled the team. Some players also feel that Conte is working them too hard – there have been seven hamstring injuries this season, the latest being defender Andreas Christensen’s on Wednesday night.

One problem for Abramovich if he does axe Conte is that virtually the whole of Chelsea’s backroom staff would go with him, which would cost the club further large amounts in compensation.

Chelsea splashed out £51million in January on another three players, on top of £190m last summer, and feel that they have backed the Italian.

Conte has insisted that he will not walk away and that he is doing a good job – but has so far refused to temper his comments.

He says he will not walk