Many managers have lost to West Brom, leading to an immediate or near immediate sacking. Chelsea must be careful not to add to the legend again.
There is a strange coincidence in recent seasons of under-pressure managers falling to West Brom and being sacked shortly after. Chelsea have a bit of experience with this themselves.
Andre Villas-Boas saw Chelsea’s league position slipping. After some player revolt, the final straw was a 1-0 loss to West Brom. Roberto Di Matteo replaced him in the dugout.
Di Matteo also fell victim to the West Brom curse. He saw Chelsea fall 2-1 to the Baggies. Though it was not his last match as Chelsea manager, it was his last Premier League match. A loss to Antonio Conte’s Juventus and dropping into the Europa League sealed Di Matteo’s fate.
And though not a direct cause, a 3-0 loss to West Brom had Jose Mourinho’s Blues thoroughly embarrassed despite already being champions. Chelsea would not be champions with Mourinho again. They fell to pieces the next season. Mourinho was sacked before Christmas.
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Consequently, Antonio Conte found himself at Stamford Bridge. A late Michy Batshuayi goal against West Brom won the title. And because fate is funny sometimes, Conte’s job is now on the brink with none other than the Baggies coming up.
January was a month of poor form for the Blues. But the 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at home and the 4-1 loss to Watford hurt. To have West Brom follow only adds salt to the wound.
The club are sticking by Conte for now. But that is a near certainty to change if they fall to the Baggies. Chelsea could fall out of top four with a loss. Any manager who puts the Champions League in doubt will receive his marching orders.
The players and staff on both sides are likely aware of this. For Chelsea, it is a battle against fate. It will only add to the curse’s myth if they lose. If West Brom loses, no one will bat an eye.
The West Brom hoodoo is psychological cloud over Stamford Bridge. Conte must be careful to shoot down any thought of the curse. Once it becomes a possibility, it will have a much better chance of becoming real. With the pressure already on, Chelsea cannot afford to let a myth trip them up.
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As Antonio Conte loves to say, they “must be ready to suffer”. Even this season, West Brom are a tough opponent. He must have his team ready to go to avoid falling victim to the curse like so many others.