Antonio Conte's challenge to Roman Abramovich for a vote of confidence is a bold call that can only cause friction rather than unity. It has been a passionate relationship, and successful for both halves, but now the arguments outweigh the good times and it is heading just one way.
It appears inevitable Conte will kiss goodbye to Stamford Bridge not long from now, a Premier League winner yet just the latest example of a Chelsea manager foretelling his own finale through increasingly irascible press briefings.
This is a story we have seen before and, such is Chelsea under Ambramovich, we will see it again.