Contented Conte: My players are focused on title
ANTONIO CONTE last night hailed Chelsea’s character and insisted that his squad have the focus to win the Premier League.
Conte had just seen his side move 11 points clear at the top of the table, with only 12 games of the league season left.
Chelsea have 63 points from 26 games — three more than at the same stage in 2014-15 when last crowned champions of England.
The Chelsea manager heaped praise upon the mentality of his side, who have now taken 53 points from the last 60 available.
‘I have a team that, until now, has deserved to stay at the top of the table,’ Conte said. ‘This is
right to say now. We stay on top of the table and we want to keep this position. Above all, I think we deserve to stay at the top of the table. We are playing good football, with good intensity, scoring a lot of goals. Every day I see them during the training sessions, the commitment and behaviour. They deserve this.
‘It was very frustrating only to be 1-1 at half-time, drawing the game, but it was also very important. In these situations, when the tension starts to increase, you’ve got to see the right answers from my players. Today I saw a lot of right answers from my players.’
Paul Clement, the former member of the Chelsea coaching staff who now manages Swansea, was left ruing the officiating of referee Neil Swarbrick, who ignored Cesar Azpilicueta handling the ball inside his own penalty area when the score was 1-1. But Chelsea also felt they should have had a penalty when Diego Costa appeared to be fouled moments later.
Swansea remain 15th in the table and three points clear of the dreaded drop zone.
‘I thought it was a penalty at the time,’ Clement said. ‘It was a penalty.
‘Someone just asked me was it a penalty up at the other end. It doesn’t matter. That’s what happened first. It’s 1-1 and we had a chance to go to 2-1.
‘On reflection, they’ve had a lot more chances and a lot more of the ball, so probably deserved the victory, but we defended resolutely for long periods, made it difficult.’