Chelsea players angry with Antonio Conte and he will leave before Christmas - Perry Groves

The former Arsenal star says he’s heard that there is discontent behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge.

Groves believes the players are annoyed by Conte, the boss himself is at odds with the board and it’s all set to blow up in his face.

He told talkSPORT: “Antonio Conte will not be manager of Chelsea at Christmas - fact.

“I’ve got a mole in the camp and they are not happy behind the scenes. The players are not happy.

“And Conte isn’t happy with Michael Emanalo and Marina Granovskaia, who is the director. They’re the ones dealing with players.

“Antonio Conte has to go through those two first before he gets to Roman Abramovich and that’s where the problem lies.

“I know some of players aren’t happy with him too. They don’t like way he goes about things, it’s very dictatorial.

“But then again, not everyone liked George Graham when I was at Arsenal but we respected him.

“Chelsea are two dodgy results away from exploding and imploding at the same time.”

Chelsea sold Nemanja Matic to Manchester United last month and that deal has angered Conte, Groves says.

He continued: “You can tell by Conte’s body language. It didn’t make sense to let one of your pivotal players, in Nemanja Matic, go to one of your main rivals.

“Conte has said it himself he didn’t want him to go.

“During the Community Shield I think he made a statement by naming Kyle Scott, Jeremie Boga and Charly Musonda as subs.

“That was Conte telling the world ‘have a look, we’re nowhere near strong enough’.

“Their squad is miles weaker than what it was last season. He’s signed Morata, Rudier and Bakayoko and if those three hit the ground running the first 11 will be stronger - but the squad is weaker.

“You just do not sell one of your best players.

“He’s had no say and that’s why he’s getting the hump.

“He’s done it at Juventus. He walked out on them. He’s got previous and now he’s not in charge of signings.”