Antonio Conte insists that Chelsea are not looking at the Premier
League table after an impressive 2-0 win over Southampton lifted the
Blues back to within a point of leaders Manchester City.
Goals in
each half from Eden Hazard and Diego Costa were enough to end the
Saints' nine-match unbeaten run at St Mary's and secure Chelsea a fourth
consecutive Premier League victory, while Thibaut Courtois has now not
conceded a goal in 410 minutes of action since Conte switched to a 3-4-3
system.
The nature of the result and manner of the performance
reinforced the belief among many observers that Chelsea are once again
serious contenders for the Premier League title. However Conte says no
one at Stamford Bridge is looking as far ahead as May.
"At this moment, it's not important for us to look at the table,"
Conte said. "We are in a good position, but it's not important. It's
more important to work very hard and trust the work will improve us.
Sometimes you can win a game but you don't see it happening in the right
way.
"Now, game by game, I'm seeing a lot of possibilities. I
have confidence because we can improve. We can improve a lot. The only
way that we must know now is to continue to work. Not look at the table.
"If
you ask me a prediction or an expectation of our championship, now it's
very difficult to talk about this. It's important to pass many games,
particularly in the first part of this season, and then you can see if
you can stay up there in the title race.
"When you start the
second part, our ideas will be more clear. We are working a lot. I'm
seeing a lot of positive things in the team. We are not looking at the
table, just continuing to work."
onte insists he will not begin to evaluate his team's title chances
until he has negotiated the busy Christmas schedule, but the Italian was
still keen to praise the latest in a series of convincing Chelsea
performances.
"I saw a lot of positive things," Conte added.
"Above all because we played against a strong team in a good moment of
form. To come here and win wasn't easy.
"I'm pleased with the
commitment, the work rate, to see my players worked very hard during the
game with and without the ball. I think this is the right way, to reach
great satisfaction in this championship. But we know that the road is
long.
"Today Diego Costa and Hazard scored again. We created many
chances to score more goals. Also, for four games, we have kept clean
sheets. That's fantastic because it means the confidence is increasing.
The players, I think, deserve this because I see them every day, the way
they are working.
"It's important to arrive this type of result and performance because, in this way, they can trust more in the work."
No comments:
Post a Comment