Chelsea stars stepped up for Antonio Conte against Watford... it would have been easy to throw in the towel, but they fought back to earn vital victory
- Chelsea battled back from 2-1 down to beat Watford 4-2 at Stamford Bridge
- Victory stopped the rot and eased growing pressure on manager Antonio Conte
- In the past, Chelsea players have rolled over but here they stepped up for boss
- The performance itself did nothing to suggest Chelsea are real title challengers
Have we finally found a group of Chelsea players prepared to put their heads above the parapet for a manager?
On this evidence it appears that maybe the case.
History tells us that when the going gets tough, Chelsea players tend to roll over.
Cesar Azpilicueta helped Chelsea complete the comeback against Watford on Saturday
The result appeared to delight Antonio Conte, who has now lifted some pressure on his job
The eventual consequence: the manager losing his job. Jose Mourinho, Andre Villas-Boas and Luiz Felipe Scolari, to name but three, would testify to that.
Against Watford, though, when it would have been the easiest thing in the world to throw in the towel, Chelsea didn't.
They stood and fought for their manager. The result: an unlikely comeback from 2-1 down to win 4-2.
Will it be enough to keep the wolves from Conte's door for the longer term? Perhaps not.
The fightback, however, indicates this group of Chelsea players are standing alongside their manager amid growing scrutiny over his job security.
Because we've seen this story so many times before, we know how it ends. So does Conte.
Conte went through plenty of emotions on the bench as his side underperformed early on
Michy Batshuayi came off the bench to score twice as Chelsea's players stood up for their boss
Like night turns into day; a period of sustained Chelsea success is followed by turbulence.
The lead character changes, in Chelsea's case often, but the ending is formulaic - the manager gets the sacked.
This was hardly a performance that would have changed the minds of those at boardroom level who believe Conte's time is drawing to a close.
Three successive Premier league defeats? Roman Abramovich wouldn't have accepted it.
Late goals from Michy Batshauyi and Cesar Azpilicueta ensured Conte didn't have to find out what the consequences of what a third straight loss would be.
Conte's doubters will say the manner of this performance would have done nothing to strengthen his position at Stamford Bridge.
There's credit to that argument. There were stages during this game when you didn't get the impression that this was a group of players trying to pull their manager out of the fire.
In the past, the Blues have rolled over but they lifted their heads above the parapet this time
It looked as though it would be a bad day for Chelsea when Abdoulaye Doucoure levelled up
By the time Batshauyi equalised in the 70th minute - Watford should have been out of sight.
In the end, though, Conte's players came through when he needed it most. There's a lot to be said for that.
Tensions over the club's stuttering summer transfer business remain.
Conte wasn't happy with his squad on September 31 and he's been happy to tell anyone who would listen of his frustrations.
Conte's players came through when he needed it most and there's a lot to be said for that
Pedro celebrates his opening goal at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea stopped the rot on Saturday
Those remarks have not gone unnoticed by those above him in the Chelsea food chain. They don't want their dirty laundry aired in public.
They'd be more likely to put up with it if the victories keep coming.
But this Chelsea is a different animal to last season. Watford came to their backyard and bullied them.
But this is a results business. Abramovich knows that more than most.
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