ALLOWS NO LET UP
under Conte and said: “He’s doing a great job but didn’t finish yet and tells us we have to keep focus.”
And Gary Cahill echoed the view of his defensive partner.
“The way we work now is intense. We do a lot of physical training, a lot of tactical training,” said the England international.
The win against United was built on another outstanding individual display by N’Golo Kante, who appears to be in a head to head battle with teammate Eden Hazard for the player of the year awards.
The France midfielder had already drawn praise for his industry, but his second goal of the season showcased Kante’s allround game and Cesc Fabregas believes his team-mate remains underrated. the club’s third permanent manager since Ferguson stood down, told the BBC.
“Because of the nature of the club, and of myself, we are ready to fight for every game, every point.
“But there is a space between the general ambition of such a giant club and what we are in reality.”
Mourinho, who won three league titles in two spells with Chelsea, also questioned the club’s transfer business under his predecessor Louis van Gaal, who sold strikers Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez as well as winger Angel Di Maria.
“I would never have sold Di “Now N’Golo is becoming famous for chasing around and making tackles that recover the ball and end up in goals, but he does other things very well,” Fabregas said.
“But because this is now his reputation, people just look into this and they don’t look to see if he does something else.”
Victor Moses is Conte’s only major injury worry, with the wingback unlikely to make the trip because of a calf problem.
A point for Stoke at Manchester City last weekend moved them within four points of eighth-placed West Bromwich Albion.
Overhauling their midlands rivals remains the primary target for Stoke, especially considering the bad blood between the clubs and managers over the transfer of Saido Berahino.
Stoke players and manager Mark Hughes accused West Brom of leaking news of Berahino’s failed test for a recreational Maria, Chicharito (Hernandez), Danny Welbeck — never, no chance,” Mourinho added.
“I found a sad club. Manchester United sold players that I would never sell, bought players that I would never buy.”
Mourinho signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly at the start of the season and allowed midfielders Memphis Depay and Morgan Schneiderlin to leave the club in January.
United beat Russian side Rostov 1-0 on Thursday to reach the lasteight of the Europa League and are sixth in the Premier League with 12 games to play. Reuters drug before his move from The Hawthorns to the Potteries.
Now, ahead of Hughes’ reunion with one of his former clubs, defender Bruno Martins Indi says his side are still targeting eighth.
“At Man City it was a good performance,” said the Dutchman, who confirmed this week he is in advanced talks about turning his season-long loan from Porto into a permanent move.
“Maybe we sometimes had the situation where we were lucky and they didn’t score the chances, but we were always dangerous on the counter-attack as well.
“The season is not done yet and a lot depends on how it is ending, but I have had a good season so far.
“We’ve had a lot of improvements after difficulties with injuries and with mistakes, but I hope we could finish eighth.” AFP