Mourinho could deliver final blow to Antonio Conte’s Chelsea future

ANTONIO CONTE faces five games in 15 days that could decide his Chelsea future – and Jose Mourinho could be the man to deal the killer blow.

Conte is suddenly under pressure at Stamford Bridge just five months after he led the club to the Premier League title in his first year in charge.

Chelsea have lost their last two domestic matches to leave them nine points adrift of current leaders Manchester City.

Conte’s injury-hit squad now face a gruelling schedule of games that will decide whether they have any realistic chance of defending their crown.

Waiting at the end of that run is Mourinho and Manchester United – who will know a win at Stamford Bridge could end Chelsea’s title hopes.

And if Mourinho returns to his former stomping ground to turn the Blues over, it could spell the end of Conte’s reign as manager.

Mourinho has already started getting under the skin of Conte, suggesting he was “crying” about losing players to injury.

The Chelsea boss hit back at Mourinho’s dig, telling the United boss to concentrate on only what he is doing at Old Trafford.

With United, City and Tottenham in such good form, Chelsea know they can ill afford any more slip ups in the league.

And they will be dead and buried should they fall to a defeat at home to one of their title rivals on November 5.

The worry for Chelsea is they could be running on empty by the time that match comes around because of the hectic schedule they have over the next fortnight.

Chelsea star’s are already feeling run down at the demands of domestic and Champions League football combined with Conte’s strict training programme.

To make matters worse, they could be without FIVE senior players for the clash with Watford tomorrow through injury.

N’Golo Kante, Victor Moses and Danny Drinkwater are all definitely out of the game with hamstring and groin injuries.

Now Tiemoue Bakayoko and makeshift midfielder David Luiz have also suffered muscle problems as the intensity of the season begins to take hold.

Next Wednesday they face Everton in the Carabao Cup, before a crucial trip to Bournemouth in the league on October 28.

Conte then has to take his depleted squad to Italy for the Champions League clash with Roma on the following Tuesday.

And to round off the week Mourinho’s United visit Stamford Bridge for a game that will be crucial in the title race this season.

Should Chelsea fall as much as 12 points behind the pacesetters by the next international break, the pressure may be too much for Conte to survive.