Conte and Wenger keen for big kick-off
ANTONIO CONTE is relishing the challenge of rivals strengthening in a bid to dethrone his side.
Conte won the Premier League title in his first season in charge, after Chelsea had finished 10th in defence of their title the previous campaign.
The Italian knows it will be difficult to claim successive titles as the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City have spent big this summer.
“In England, it’s very difficult to repeat and to win,” Conte said.
“You win the title and the others prepare next season to fight you with all their strength, to try to go to the transfer market, to try to improve.”
Conte anticipates that this will be the most difficult season of his career and wants Chelsea to make additions to his small squad before the transfer window closes at the end of this month.
“To be coach of a team in England is great, but also gives you a lot of responsibility,” Conte added. “When you arrive in England, you must be ready to fight with big teams, against big players, against big coaches.
“This league has made me better than before. I’m sure about this.”
Chelsea’s season begins today with the Community Shield against Arsenal, a team Conte rates as rivals for the Premier League despite the Gunners last winning it in 2003-04.
“I consider Arsenal one of the six teams ready to fight to win the title,” said the Italian.
“I consider Arsene Wenger one of the best coaches. He had a lot of time to build his team, his squad.”
Wenger has been Gunners
boss for 20 years and signed a two-year contract extension after winning the FA Cup for a record seventh time with May’s 2-1 defeat of Chelsea.
He insists it is completely his decision not to sell Alexis Sanchez this summer, with the Arsenal boss ready to take the risk of losing him for nothing in a year’s time.
The Gunners boss is expected to play hard-ball with Sanchez as he does not want to lose his talisman to Manchester City.
When asked about the player, Wenger said: “I can tell you he is focused, and my decision is clear: he will stay and he will respect that. It is as simple as that.
“Every negotiation has to be a little bit secret. The transparency of society is very pushy but we have to resist a little bit, as much as we can.
“I think he will be here this season, and if we can do it for more seasons we will do it as well.”
While Wenger prepares to lay down the law with Sanchez, he
appears set to take a different approach with England midfielder Jack Wilshere.
The 25-year-old has struggled with injuries and will miss the start of the new campaign as he recovers from a leg fracture.
Asked whether he expects Wilshere to stay at Arsenal, Wenger said: “That decision is not completely made.
“It is his first week back in full training and we have to see where we go from there.”