Antonio Conte shuts down crisis talk

The opening weekend of the season may be too early to talk of a crisis, but the mood music around Stamford Bridge is not good and Saturday’s humiliation by Burnley was not out of character from a club that has appeared dysfunctional since before becoming champions last May.

The rift between coach Antonio Conte and his star striker Diego Costa, which surfaced at the start of the year, was the first sign that all was not harmonious at Chelsea.

Next came doubts about Conte’s own future. Would he stay or go? He eventually signed a new contract, for more money but not for a longer term.