|
LONDON -- Antonio Conte admitted he is "lucky" to have players with title pedigree after Chelsea secured a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Swansea City at Stamford Bridge to move 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League. For much of the second half a spirited Swansea team harboured genuine hopes of halting Chelsea's momentum after Fernando Llorente's header cancelled out Cesc Fabregas' early opener just before the interval, but late strikes from Pedro Rodriguez and Diego Costa ensured a convincing win. The result increases Chelsea's already commanding lead at the top of the table with rivals Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal all out of Premier League action this weekend, and Conte believes his players' experience of winning the title two years ago is preventing any loss of focus. "To keep the concentration for the whole championship is not easy," Conte told a news conference. "But I have a lot of players who played and won in the past. They know very well the way that we must continue to try to keep at the top of the table, to try and win the title. For this reason, I'm lucky. "I'm lucky to have a lot of players who, in the past, won a lot. If, sometimes, I can see some of them relaxing, it's right for me to try and help them be focused for every moment. But, honestly, it wasn't necessary for me to keep the concentration and focus of the players. I'm very happy with this." Asked if Chelsea have a team of winners, Conte added: "I have a team that, until now, has deserved to stay at the top of the table. This is right to say now. Then, if we are able to win the title, I don't know. For sure, now we stay there. 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. Trust me, I'm very happy above all for my players. They are deserving this. Every day I see them during the training sessions, the commitment and behaviour. They deserve this." Cesc Fabregas was one of Chelsea's outstanding performers on his 300th Premier League appearance. The Spain international has impressed despite largely playing second fiddle to Nemanja Matic this season, and Conte says he will continue to alternate between the two depending on opponents. "Cesc played a really good game, but it's important for me to have these solutions and also to analyse the games, game by game, to understand when we need to have a player with more quality [on the ball], and to lose something in height [and physique]," Conte insisted. "For me, I consider Nemanja a top player, and also Kante, but also Fabregas. He's a really good player. "I'm really pleased to see him in this form despite not starting the last game in the league. This is the right way to continue. The other example is Pedro and Willian. I'm pleased to have this type of players. They're putting themselves in the team. To have this type of player is fantastic for a coach."
|
