Chelsea set to stick with under-pressure Conte for now

Chelsea look set to stick with manager Antonio Conte for now and have not approached any potential candidates to replace him.

While Conte’s future at Stamford Bridge beyond the summer looks bleak, Sky Sports News understands owner Roman Abramovich is against employing a short-term fix ahead of a busy few weeks of fixtures.

The champions face both Manchester clubs in the Premier League and face Barcelona over two legs in the Champions League last-16, as well as welcoming West Brom to Stamford Bridge next, live on Monday Night Football.

Conte will be given time to turn the Blues’ fortunes around, Sky Sports News understands, after a difficult period that has been capped by successive league defeats to Bournemouth at home and Watford away.

Sky Sports News has also been told that reports of contact being made with two out-of-work managers – Carlo Ancelotti and Luis Enrique – are inaccurate.

Relations between Conte and the Chelsea board continue to be strained, however. As far back as last summer, he complained openly that he was not being backed in the transfer window.

Conte believes his squad lacks the resources to be able to make wholesale changes to his starting XI and has given his squad three days off ahead of Monday’s home match against West Brom.

After being thrashed 4-1 at Vicarage Road on Monday Night Football, Conte insisted he will fight on until Chelsea’s board decide he is no longer the man for the job.

He said: “I’m not worried about my job. I work every day and I give 120 per cent, okay? If this is enough, it’s okay. Otherwise, the club can take a different decision. But I’m not worried.

“Tomorrow is another day. I can be the Chelsea coach or not. My soul is clear and I go to sleep without the problem that ‘maybe I could do this’. I try to do everything. If this is enough, okay, otherwise the club can take another decision.”