Chelsea boss Antonio Conte challenges Roman Abramovich to make sack decision

ANTONIO CONTE appeared to challenge Roman Abramovich to sack him after Chelsea were beaten 4-1 by Watford on Monday night.

Antonio Conte's position at Chelsea is under renewed pressure after his side slipped to back-to-back Premier League defeats.

Before the match, Conte had asked for a public vote of confidence from Abramovich amid speculation over his future.

But the result, the first time Chelsea have lost consecutive games by at least three goals since October 1995, means the Italian will be fearing the worst.

And speaking after the match at Vicarage Road, Conte claimed he wasn't under pressure and suggested he would accept the club's decision if they decided to sack him.

Conte said: 'My position? It is the same. I stay here, try to work and put all myself in the work.

'The pressure? Which pressure? What is the pressure?

'I work – if this is enough it is, OK. Otherwise, the club has to take another decision.'

Tiemoue Bakayoko was sent off after 30 minutes for two bookable offences and Troy Deeney then gave Watford the lead from the penalty spot when Thibaut Courtois brought down Gerard Deulofeu.

But with time ticking away, Eden Hazard produced a stunning equaliser from distance for Chelsea.

However, the home side responded almost immediately though Daryl Janmaat and Deulofeu in the 85th and 88th minute. 

Roberto Pereyra then put the icing on the cake in stoppage time with a thumping finish.

The result means Chelsea have a one-point lead of Tottenham in the race to finish in the top four.

And Courtois says his team-mates need to regain their form ahead of a busy month of fixtures.

He said: “I think we have to find our form from before new year. We have a tough month coming up. 

“It is important for us to continue to work – heads high.'

Watford’s win was the first for Javi Gracia since taking over from Marco Silva last month and he hailed his players for producing “an unforgettable night”.

He said: ”It was an unforgettable night. A great victory and a great match. I am very proud of my players today.

'You always try to look for the victory and play well. Today we played a good match, pressed high. OK, the match changed after the sending off but I think we played very well.

'Chelsea are a very big club, a big team.

'Today they had more difficulty because of the sending off but there was in the second half moments when they played better.

'I only think to get the next three points.

'Tomorrow we start training again to be ready for the next match.'

Source: www.express.co.uk