Will Chelsea boss Antonio Conte become the latest manager to fall foul of the Premier League champions curse… following in the footsteps of Jose Mourinho and Claudio Ranieri
Blues chief is already under pressure in 2017-18 just months after winning the title, following three losses in eight games
CHELSEA boss Antonio Conte could become the latest manager to fall foul of the Premier League champions curse.
In the past two seasons, the league-winning head coach has been given the boot just months after getting his hands on the trophy.
Jose Mourinho led Chelsea to the Premier League crown in the 2014-15 season... only to be sacked in December, just months later.
Meanwhile, just nine months after leading Leicester to the most incredible of all Premier League title wins, boss Claudio Ranieri was given the boot.
Another manager to go through the peaks and troughs of English top-flight management was Roberto Mancini.
The Italian won the league with Manchester City in 2011-12, only to be sacked the following season.
Back to the present day and Conte is under increasing pressure at Stamford Bridge after three losses in the first eight games of the Prem season.
The Blues have lost their last two games - 1-0 against Man City and 2-1 against previously win-less and goalless Crystal Palace.
On top of that, Chelsea lost their season opener 3-2 at home to Burnley.
The West Londoners sit fifth in the league table, an incredible NINE points adrift of leaders Man City already.
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On top of that, the Blues have a goal difference of just +5, miles behind City's tally of +25 and Manchester United's +19.
This weekend, Chelsea host Watford - currently above the Blues in fourth and enjoying the best-ever start to a Premier League season - with plenty on the line.
The good news for Conte is this: The Hornets haven't beaten Chelsea at Stamford Bridge since a 5-1 demolition job in 1985-86.
More recently, the Blues have won nine and drawn three of their last 12 clashes with Watford.
However, at 12/1, Conte is the FIFTH-favourite to be sacked next, behind strugglers Ronald Koeman, Sean Dyche, Slaven Bilic and Mauricio Pellegrino.
A loss to Watford and Conte COULD become the third straight manager in a row to win the Premier League... and then be given the boot almost immediately.