The difference between Chelsea and Spurs according to Conte

LONDON: Winning is normal for a club of Chelsea’s stature but that is not necessarily the case at Premier League title rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Blues manager Antonio Conte has said.

Chelsea appeared to be running away with the title but Saturday’s unexpected loss to Crystal Palace loosened their grip at the top as second-placed Tottenham cut their lead to seven points. “I think the difference between Chelsea and Tottenham is this: if you stay in Chelsea and win, it’s normal,” Conte said. “If you stay in Tottenham, if you win, it’s great but, if you lose... it’s not a disaster, no? Not a disaster.”

During his time as a player Conte was part of a Juventus side which let a seven-point lead slip over the last six games as Lazio narrowly edged out their Serie A rivals to win the title in the 1999-2000 season.

Conte, who has admitted his outlook on management has been influenced by those painful memories, said he will not be taking anything for granted.

“It’s true, I didn’t sleep for a week after that but these experiences are very important. For this reason I try to keep the concentration from the start until the end,” the Italian added. “Anything can happen.”

Liverpool have been given a two-year ban from signing academy players and fined £100 000 pounds for breaching rules governing the transfer of youth players, the Premier League said.

The second year of the ban, which prevents the club from signing any academy players who have been registered with other Premier League or English Football League clubs in the previous 18 months, is suspended for three years.

A league investigation found Liverpool guilty of offering prohibited inducements in an attempt to recruit a schoolboy from Stoke City. – Reuters