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Cape Town - Several bookmakers have suspended betting on Chelsea boss Antonio Conte being the next English Premiership manager to be sacked after a humiliating 4-1 loss to Watford on Monday night.
Former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique is the favourite to take over the reigns at Stamford Bridge after Conte's side suffered two humiliating defeats to Watford and Bournemouth in the space of a week.
The champions have now conceded seven goals in their last two outings after also going down 3-0 at home to Bournemouth last week to put their chances of Champions League qualification for next season in serious peril.
The 48-year-old in his post-match interview dared the Chelsea hierarchy to fire him after repeatedly complaining throughout the campaign at his lack of input towards the club's recruitment strategy.
"Tomorrow is another day. I can be the Chelsea coach or not, what is the problem?" said Conte. "I go to sleep without a problem.
"I try to do everything and, if this is enough ok, otherwise the club take a different decision. The life goes on."
Defeat leaves Chelsea still lagging in fourth and just a point ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur in the battle for the top four.
Once more the Italian lined up without a recognised striker at Vicarage Road with Alvaro Morata sidelined by injury and new-signing Olivier Giroud deemed fit enough only for a place on the bench.
According to OptaJoe stats though Conte has the joint-best win rate 70.3% of any manager in Premier League history (min 5 games), level with Pep Guardiola. Tension.
UK betting odds:
Luis Enrique 13/5
Carlo Ancelotti 5/1
Maurizio Sarri 5/1
Guus Hiddink 6/1
Joachim Loew 8/1
