Chelsea and Antonio Conte have officially hit rock bottom.

There's been an underlying tension at Stamford Bridge all season long with Conte even linked with the sack as early as the summer, but now rumours of the Italian's exit have reached fever pitch.

Just days after suffering a humiliating 3-0 loss to Bournemouth in west London, the Blues were brushed aside by Watford on Monday night in a ruthless 4-1 bludgeoning.

Summer signing Tiemoue Bakayoko was sent off after 30 minutes, David Luiz made a disastrous return to the first-team and Gerard Deulofeu and Roberto Pereyra ran riot all night.

Some bookmakers have now suspended betting on Conte getting the sack and the Blues' top four position never looked so precarious. All in all, there's a justly toxic atmosphere brewing at the club.

Chelsea's nightmare start to 2018

The Bournemouth and Watford results are just the tip of the iceberg, though, with Sky Sports highlighting that Chelsea's horrendous form can actually be backdated to the 2-2 draw with Arsenal on January 3.

Since that night of heart break at the hands of Hector Bellerin, Chelsea have picked up just two victories, five draws and three defeats.

Furthermore, the dates all aligned for a certain group and that's Manchester United fans, who clocked onto something rather interesting after the Watford debacle.

That final admirable performance, the draw at Arsenal, just happened to coincide with the then controversial mind games between Conte and Jose Mourinho. They weren't just errand comments either with the Special One even brining up 'match-fixing' and being branded a 'little man' in return.

Are Jose Mourinho's mind games the cause?

You could tell the comments got under Conte's skin at the time and it seems, whether as a direct result or not, he's not been able to regain his calm at the Chelsea helm since.

Take a look at United fans bringing the point to attention:

Interesting stuff. Did Mourinho's notorious mind games unsettle Conte at Chelsea or are the dates mere coincidence? It certainly wouldn't be outrageous to suggest the former played it's part.

He the Portuguese did, after all, proclaim: "What never happened to me and will never happen is to be suspended for match-fixing."

Now that's personal and that's controversial. 

That being said, Mourinho might not have to deal with his rival in the Premier League for much longer if the bookmakers and rumours ring true. 

And whether it was pressure from the board, the transfer window debacle or some carefully toxic words from the Theatre of Dreams, Conte has lost his nerve.

Do you think Mourinho's mind games have unsettled Conte at Chelsea? Have your say in the comments section below.