Uneasiness pervades at Chelsea, with Antonio Conte among the malcontents | Sachin Nakrani


The champions picked up more knocks in the 3-3 draw with Roma but it is the mood of their manager that must be most vexing for the Stamford Bridge board

Who says the Champions League group‑stage games are boring? Anyone who does should have been at Stamford Bridge on an evening when the early scent of smoke in the air preceded a firecracker of a match between teams who sit fifth in their respective top flights. Six goals and enough passages of enthralling play to leave everyone in attendance giddy on the spectacle of it all.

Or perhaps not, if Antonio Conte’s reaction to the final whistle was anything to go by. While the majority caught their breath, the Italian grimaced, politely shook hands with his counterpart, Eusebio Di Francesco, and headed down the tunnel. The simmering fury was clear, the sense that this match had been something to endure rather than enjoy, obvious to see.

Related: Eden Hazard strikes twice to earn Chelsea draw after Edin Dzeko double for Roma

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