Chelsea slipped to a dismal 3-0 defeat at the hands of Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge last night, and reports emerging today today suggest the club’s board are giving serious consideration to sacking their manger Antonio Conte.
The Blues boss has been at odds with the club’s hierarchy over transfers during both the summer and January windows.
Although their has been widespread speculation about the Italian coaches future over the last couple of months, the London Evening Standard are reporting it is only now, after such a chastising home defeat as last night’s, that the Stamford Bridge board are giving serious thought as to whether their current manager is the right man for the job.
Most observers are shocked that Conte is coming under such intense pressure after winning the Premier League and reaching the FA Cup final in his first season at the club, but Chelsea have proven on many occasions that they do not hesitate to sack mangers as soon as things are not going well – even mid season, just ask Jose Mourinho, Andre Villas-Boas, Roberto Di Matteo and Luiz Felipe Scolari.
The Blues board are said to have drawn up a list of potential successors with former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said to be their number one target, although former coach Carlo Ancelotti has also been heavily linked with a return to Stamford Bridge in recent months.