Why Antonio Conte should be fearing for his job

No-one saw it coming.

Chelsea, the reigning Premier League champions, losing at home to Burnley (that's Burnley, the team that won once away in the whole of 2016-17) on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.

It is, of course, very early days. But should Antonio Conte be worried?

History suggests he should.

It's been eight years since a side staged a successful defence of the Premier League title, Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson in 2008-09.

And going back even further, since 2006-07 the Scot is one of only two managers - along with Manchester City's Manuel Pellegrini - to win the title and still be in his job come the end of the following May.

Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea, 2009-10), Roberto Mancini (Manchester City, 2011-12), Jose Mourinho (Chelsea, 2014-15) and Claudio Ranieri (Leicester, 2015-16) were all gone 12 months after winning English top flight's biggest prize.

That's four of the six title-winning managers before Conte.

Premier League champion one year, gone the next
Four of last six title-winning bosses have been gone within 12 months
There's also David Moyes, who took over a side just crowned champions under the retiring Ferguson but who failed to make it to the end of his first season in charge.

And if that's not enough to worry Chelsea's Italian manager, what about these stats?

Chelsea are only the second reigning Premier League champions to lose the opening game of the following campaign (after Leicester last season).

They are also the first title holders to concede three goals in the opening game of the next season, and the first side to pick up two red cards on day one.

Worrying times.
Why Antonio Conte should be fearing for his job Why Antonio Conte should be fearing for his job Reviewed by Debo Olowu on August 14, 2017 Rating: 5

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