Football
Liam Twomey, Chelsea correspondent 7y

Asmir Begovic: Chelsea will get over problems under Antonio Conte

Asmir Begovic insists Chelsea will overcome the "teething problems" they have experienced in the early months of Antonio Conte's reign and says he is happy to battle Thibaut Courtois for the No. 1 spot.

The optimism that greeted the Blues' promising start to the new Premier League season under Conte was shattered by two comprehensive defeats against top-four rivals Liverpool and Arsenal, though they rebounded with a 2-0 victory over Hull City at the KCOM Stadium on Saturday.

That win yielded only Chelsea's second clean sheet of the season as Conte shifted to a 3-4-3 formation to try and bolster a struggling defence, but Begovic believes the team's problems are inevitable as they adjust to their new head coach's ideas on the pitch.

"We are into a period of transition, mistakes will happen and it will take time," Begovic told the Daily Mirror.

"But I think we will be very strong moving forward in the future. We had a good start, the first four games we played really well, everything was going our way and then we had a couple of bad results with Arsenal and Liverpool.

"I think it is teething problems. You have to go through a process before it becomes a success. It takes a bit of time. As time goes on, we know more what to expect and what [Conte] expects from us.

"Absolutely we can make the top four. That's the main goal. Of course we want to win the title but getting back in the Champions League is crucial. I think it's one of the best squads I've ever been a part of because we've got strength in depth everywhere."

Begovic is yet to make a Premier League appearance this season as he waits for his chance behind Courtois, and last summer prompted speculation that he could be tempted to leave Stamford Bridge in search of regular first-team football.

But Begovic -- who will face Courtois when his Bosnia and Herzegovina side meet Belgium in a World Cup qualifier on Friday -- says he has never raised the prospect of a transfer with Conte and wants to keep staking his claim for the No. 1 spot in training.

"It was a clear situation [with Courtois]," Begovic added. "[Conte] made it clear, his philosophy. I never talked about leaving. Of course I want to play but at a big club you also have to accept you are part of a squad going for several trophies, different cups and be part of a big group.

"It's nice that the manager wants you to be part of that. We have three top keepers. We train hard, we need to stay at the top of our games."

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