Visits to West Bromwich Albion have become a curse for Chelsea’s managers
Chelsea travel to West Bromwich Albion and return to the ground where, last season, Michy Batshuayi gave Antonio Conte his first league title in England. The Blues’ history at the Hawthorns, though, is much less auspicious for the manager.
Going into the game, both managers are under pressure at their respective clubs for different reasons. Tony Pulis is struggling to get his normally resilient if cynical side going this season. They currently sit 16th in the league. Obviously, just being Chelsea’s manager is reason enough for Antonio Conte to be feeling the heat. It doesn’t matter how well the team perform, whoever is in charge is generally never far from the sack. Conte is no different to any other Blues manager in that respect.
This season does have a slightly different feel, though. Antonio Conte saw off Diego Costa and, more recently, he’s taken on David Luiz. In the Roman Abramovich era, managers do not normally come out on top in player vs. manager fights. Player power generally reigns supreme at Chelsea.
The Hawthorns has not always been kind to Blues managers. Any Chelsea manager who has a look in the history books would do well to avoid a peek at some of the club’s recent trips to the home of the Baggies. In particular, the games in 2012. To say it was a funny old year understates it in the extreme.
In charge of the club going into the year was a manager who, like Conte, was setting out to assert his authority on some of the ‘old guard’ at the club. Andre Villas-Boas was never a popular manager amongst fans or players alike. His man-management skills appeared to lack…well… man-management skills.
Must Read: Chelsea's predicted XI: Antonio Rudiger in to rest Gary Cahill for midweek
When push came to shove and Abramovich got involved, Villas-Boas got uninvolved. He was sacked following a 1-0 defeat against West Brom. Abramovich simply pressed the next manager button.
Next into the hot seat, as caretaker manager, was the polar opposite of Villas-Boas. Fan favourite Roberto di Matteo was next on the managerial conveyor belt. A legend as a player and not far off becoming a legend as manager, di Matteo returned a shared balance of power between the players and manager that brought with it a winning mentality. Chelsea went on to win the FA Cup and, incredibly, the Champions League.
The following season – but still in 2012 – a 2-1 defeat at the Hawthorns was di Matteo’s last league game in charge. A 3-0 defeat by Juventus the following week and the Italian was history. Much to the fans’ disgust, ex-Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez took the job of Chelsea’s interim manager.
When Benitez left at the end of the season, Jose Mourinho came back in charge. In his second season, he took Chelsea to the Premier League title. Having won the league with two games to go, a trip to the Hawthorns should have been a celebration.
Instead, Chelsea lost the game 3-0. Cesc Fabregas was stupidly sent off for kicking the ball against the head of Chris Brunt during a fracas involving Diego Costa and half the West Brom team. Having won the league title, for some reason the blues were playing angry and the game at West Brom was anything but a celebration. It was as if something had occurred between Mourinho and players in the period between picking up the EPL trophy and heading to the Hawthorns.
Something may well have happened, and one day we may find out. Four months into the 2015/16 season Mourinho was fired.
Next: Chelsea vs. West Brom opposition analysis: What awaits the Blues?
With both managers on the brink of a precipice on Saturday afternoon, it will be no surprise if the outcome results in the end of Tony Pulis or Antonio Conte. A real surprise would be if Eden Hazard could spend less than half the game on his backside. Antonio Conte or Tony Pulis are much more likely to be sacked though.