Those are the thoughts of The Independent football writer Jonathan Liew.
Chelsea had a weekend to forget as they lost 2-1 away to Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace.
It marked their second league defeat on the spin after slipping up 1-0 at home to Manchester City.
And Liew thinks things aren’t so clear for Conte at Stamford Bridge compared to last season.
“The other big difference between this season and last season apart from Champions League football and the schedule, was that they were able to play on wounded pride which had been left behind by Jose Mourinho,” Liew told The Indy’s football podcast.
“He was able to come out and say ‘if you don’t buck up your ideas, you will have a season like last season’.
“The dynamic this season coming off season as champions is very different and you can’t push those same emotional buttons.
“The words are similar to last season but it feels like a cry for help now – the tone is slightly different so I’m not sure what is happening here.
“I don’t get the same certainty from him this time round.”
Chelsea, who have dropped to fifth in the table, face Roma in the Champions League tomorrow (7.45pm).
Conte will be without N’Golo Kante for the match, as he is nursing a hamstring injury.
