Antonio Conte could survive at Chelsea — even without a top-four finish this season.
Two league defeats in a row have dropped the Blues to fifth, five points behind Tottenham.
And they face an uphill battle to stay in the Champions League with a tough second-leg in Barcelona looming next Wednesday.
But owner Roman Abramovich is ready to keep his head coach as long as he curbs the moaning about transfers.
Conte’s whinging over spending, about having no money to compete with Manchester City and his consistent negative attitude in public has become ‘wearing’ for the club’s top brass.
A Stamford Bridge insider revealed: “Roman is not so trigger happy these days when it comes to firing managers.
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“Champions League football is important but not a deal breaker.
“These days Roman wants to give his managers every opportunity.
“The stress point could be if Antonio starts complaining again.
“People are growing weary of it all.”
Abramovich has bankrolled Conte with a net spend of £180million since he arrived in the summer of 2016.
