Antonio Conte pleads for patience, asks for three world class players and club support.

Antonio Conte has once again spoken out of the repeated questions of his future and transfer policy this season as a reminder to the Chelsea hierarchy. 

Despite his public show of defiance last week, Antonio Conte’s future remains the focus of attention from the media and press ahead of the game against Watford this evening. In fact, in some quarters, there are reports this morning stating that if Chelsea suffer a defeat this evening, Roman Abramovich is prepared to sack the Italian because he is becoming frustrated with Antonio Conte’s comments made to the media.

Speaking to the assembled media in his pre-match press conference on Friday, Antonio Conte faced another wave of questions following our disappointing defeat against Bournemouth and the distance between ourselves and Manchester City who are running away with the Premier League title. When asked how long he believes it would take to get Chelsea back on the same level, In typical fashion this season, Antonio Conte responded by saying:

“I don't know this. Also because you can see the other teams are working very hard, very strong to improve their squads. It's not simple, not simple. I think a club like Chelsea must have more patience than other teams.

For sure it would be very difficult. If you compare it to the past, the situation has totally changed. Yes. But especially for this reason, you have to understand that only through a great work, a big work, can you go and try to be closer to these teams who maybe don't have this type of financial problems.

Now we must be realistic and understand what our level is.

We have to struggle, to fight for a Champions League place. That is our top priority.

We must be realistic and strong to accept this type of situation. Then, in the future, if there is the possibility, you have to try to buy only two or three players – not eight players.

And, yes, those two or three have to be world class. This summer we brought in eight players and spent a lot less than other teams, who bought only two or three.

We have to create a basis, to build something important, and to do this you must have 15 or 16 players. In the summer we changed eight players and that means you don’t have a basis, a great foundation.

We lost strong, experienced players in the last few years, so we must have patience to ¬understand that. We have to be realistic, create a basis and then build something important to face big challenges with the other teams.

I don’t understand why other coaches are not under pressure after a defeat in the way that you are doing with me.

Don’t forget, last season we won the league as underdogs.

I must be honest, there were these type of rumours and speculation [that he might be sacked] even after the first game of the season when we lost against Burnley. Maybe I’d like the club to prepare a statement for me, no? To say they trust me in my work and my job.

But, at the same time, I know this never happened in the past, so why should I hope for something different? But, for sure, I’d like to have a statement of support against this speculation. The challenge is that, in the past, this never happened. So it’s a big challenge [for the board] to change the approach now. But, for sure, I’d be glad."

In spite all of this, Antonio Conte has prepared his players to take on Watford knowing that we can overhaul Liverpool to move back into third place with three important points with Olivier Giroud expected to make his Chelsea debut from the start.

It’s such an important game because of the speculation of Conte’s future and because of the dropped points at Anfield yesterday. The good thing for us is that we have had a four-day break to prepare for this one and will have a full week ahead of our next Premier League game which is a week tonight at Stamford Bridge against West Brom. Tonight, and next week are both winnable games on paper and Chelsea simply have to deliver.

Will Antonio Conte get the patience and a public show of support from the Chelsea board? Can Chelsea deliver the right performance and result tonight against Watford?

Only time will tell.