Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has stressed that it is vital for Antonio Conte’s future that Chelsea don’t lose to Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley on Sunday.
Although Conte guided Chelsea to Premier League glory in his first season in charge, the club currently find themselves in a difficult situation after they were beaten 3-2 at home by Burnley on the opening weekend of the season.
Conte has selection issues to contend with as several key players are unavailable through injuries and suspension against Tottenham, while in any case Chelsea have a very small squad.
Carragher believes that Conte must avoid a repeat of the situation that occurred two seasons ago when Jose Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea despite winning the league in the previous campaign.
Asked whether it is time for Chelsea to panic, Carragher, as reported by the London Evening Standard, said: “No. Chelsea need to do the exact opposite.
“If you go back two years when they were champions on the first game of the season, they played at home to Swansea.
“They drew the game, not a great result, and obviously had the situation with the club doctor (Eva Carneiro) and all of a sudden after one game it felt like Chelsea were under pressure.
“It felt like people were fanning the flames, this story just seemed to get bigger and bigger with players and Jose Mourinho until eventually he lost his job.
“They’ve lost one game at home (this season). What they should be thinking now is: ‘Relax, we’ve got two games until the transfer window is finished.’
“In that time Conte needs a couple of players, I would say. It needs strengthening, especially in wing-back positions. But next week at Tottenham the mentality for Chelsea must be to go there, and don’t get beat.
“Get your point, (beat) Everton at home the following week, try and get your three points.
“Go into the international break with four points, maybe three points off the top, not the end of the world, and stop this tidal wave of negativity.”
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