CHELSEA
Antonio Conte needs Chelsea to silence the doubters after his position
came under unexpected scrutiny ahead of Leicester's visit on Saturday.
Off the field, business is booming at Stamford Bridge
following Chelsea's club record kit deal with Nike that will see the American
sportswear giants pay the Blues a reported £60 million per season for the next
15 years.
But, while Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich counts the cash,
down at the club's Cobham training ground, Blues boss Conte is plotting a way
to stay in the Russian's favour after a curious start to his reign.
The 47-year-old only arrived on a three-year contract in the
close-season, yet on Thursday two bookmakers suspended betting on Conte being
sacked amid a flurry of big wagers on his departure.
When Chelsea kicked off the Conte era with three successive
league victories that scenario seemed impossible.
However, lacklustre defeats against Liverpool and Arsenal have
put pressure on the former Italy and Juventus coach to prove he can mount a
credible title challenge in his first season in England.
Even by Abramovich's ruthless standards, it would be crazy
to axe Conte so soon and Chelsea have given no indication that the Italian is
on the way out.
Yet his frustration in the transfer market, where Conte was
forced to make panic buys for defenders David Luiz and Marcos Alonso after
missing out on his top targets, was the first sign it might not be all plain
sailing at a club notorious for behind the scenes politicking that can make a
manger's life difficult.
Conte was already well aware of the task facing him as he
tries to rebuild a squad that underachieved badly last season, costing Jose
Mourinho his job in the process.
Hampered by injuries to key players, Conte's renovations
remain very much a work in progress and seventh placed Chelsea already trail
five points behind leaders Manchester City.
BAD PATCH
A 2-0 win at Hull in Chelsea's last match before the
international break was notable for the Italian's switch to a system that
deployed three central defenders – the formation he used successfully with
Italy – and it produced only the second clean-sheet of the season for the west
Londoners.
With John Terry back in training after an ankle injury, Conte
could bring in the veteran defender alongside two of Luiz, Gary Cahill and
Cesar Azpilicueta.
Blues goalkeeper Asmir Begovic believes that Terry's absence
was a major factor in Chelsea's bad patch and he expects the club captain to
return to the line-up.
"It's always good to have JT around. He's our captain
and he's still a fantastic player, so whenever he's available and fit it's
positive for us," Begovic said.
"His leadership is key for us. The fact is that over the
last month or so we've had a lot of changes, players have come in and out with
injuries, and maybe that has disrupted things for us a little bit."
Chelsea winger Willian is expected to be absent on
compassionate leave following the death of his mother, which could mean a
recall for Oscar or Cesc Fabregas, who scored twice when the Blues won 4-2 at
Leicester in the League Cup last month.
With only two wins from their seven league matches, Leicester
appear to be suffering a prolonged hangover from their fairytale title triumph.
Claudio Ranieri's side would become the first English
champions to lose their opening four away games of the season since Blackburn
in 1995-96 if they are beaten by Chelsea.
And Ranieri is at a loss to explain his team's away-day
blues.
"It is difficult to say why," Ranieri said.
"In the first match we were unlucky as we created chances.
"The other two matches we deserved to lose, Liverpool
and Manchester were better than us."
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