Conte loses Blues belief
ANTONIO CONTE has confessed he does not see his Chelsea team as one of the title favourites.
Conte’s team won the crown last year against the odds but the Italian is worried his squad is not strong enough to defend their title and take on the Champions League as well.
There were none of the usual rousing battle cries from the boss of the champions, only a resigned shrug as he admits the pundits who say Manchester City are favourites and that Chelsea go into the new campaign against Burnley at home today desperately needing fresh blood are right.
To add to Chelsea’s problems after a summer of worry and discontent, the club revealed they are locked in a legal battle with stay-away star Diego Costa.
Costa’s lawyers have accused Chelsea of a lack of respect for the Spain striker for reportedly telling him he was not wanted this term by text message, and threatened to use “all possible legal mechanisms” to force a move to Atletico Madrid.
Costa, still in Brazil training on his own, was only one of a series of problems that have beset Conte, with several transfer targets not achieved and injuries ruling out key players for the start of the season.
“If you have to give your evaluation, it’s right not to put Chelsea to be a favourite,” he said. “It was the same last season. Not one person believed Chelsea would win the title. This season, at this moment, I agree with people who think this.”
Conte has repeatedly said that Chelsea, who have spent more than £130million on four new arrivals already, need at least two or three more players, and last week declared this could be the “most difficult” season of his managerial career.
Two of his new signings, £70m striker Alvaro Morata and £30m central defender Antonio Rudiger, are set to make their debuts today, with Pedro injured and Victor Moses banned.
Conte, whose future has come into question, said: “My state of mind is clear. I signed a new contract and I decided to stay, to work for this club and try to give 120 per cent every day. I’m happy to do this job. I’m trying to do my best every day.” Conte has been criticised for moaning about a lack of players while several youngsters have been sent out on loan this summer, but he added: “I’m not looking for sympathy from any coaches.
“If the club decide to send players out on loan, it is because these players are not ready to play for Chelsea.”
England Under-21 midfielder Lewis Baker has signed a new five-year deal with Chelsea but then joined Middlesbrough on a one-year loan deal.
Conte said: “I want to see the real Chelsea. The season is starting and we must be ready, even if many players are missing. We have to go with these players. I don’t want to find any excuses.”
New Burnley striker Jonathan Walters has warned Chelsea that they will fight for every point again this season.
Walters has arrived from Stoke for £3m to give manager Sean Dyche more firepower and he said: “We’ve already got that ‘we’ll show you’ mentality.
“We’ll be underdogs for most games and that suits us. A lot of the lads have worked up from the lower leagues and would have that mentality built into them.”