Antonio Conte has said he took Thursday’s rumours claiming he was close to being sacked as Chelsea boss ‘with a smile’.
The reports started after bookmakers Betway and Paddy Power both stopped taking wagers on Conte being the next Premier League boss to go after a surge of bets.
A representative from rival bookie Coral later told talkSPORT it was an ‘overreaction’ to suspend betting, and although the Italian remains the second favourite to be given the boot next.
Despite a flying start under Conte, Chelsea have experienced more mixed results in recent weeks, suffering painful defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal and a 2-2 draw with a struggling Swansea side.