After a late victory over West Bromwich Albion yesterday, Antonio Conte was delighted with the efforts and determination of his players when it looked as though Tony Pulis’ side may hold out for a draw, as Conte told the press:
“It was a very difficult game but we knew it would be, I spoke a lot in the week about the difficulty of the game because we faced a very tough team, very physical and difficult to break down. I’m pleased because we showed great maturity and intelligence to find the right solution. It’s another clean sheet and now it’s important to think about the next game away at Sunderland. We have only two days to prepare for the game but we must be focused, it’s an important period. Christmas is very difficult for all the teams so it’s important to win, be focused and play football with good intensity.”
Diego Costa pounced on a defensive error from Gareth Macauley to ensure that the Blues maintained their winning streak and remained at the top of the Premier League table.
However, they could be about to lose a key man John Terry after his former teammate Gus Poyet launched an ambitious £12 million deal which would see the club captain depart Stamford Bridge in January to join Shanghai Shenhua, say Metro. The deal would see him earn around £230,000 per week after tax.
It seems unlikely that the iconic figure would want to leave halfway through the season, but Terry has played just once since picking up an injury in September and more defensive signings are expected in January.
Another threat to their title challenge could be a potential points deduction after the fracas at the Etihad Stadium in the clash with Manchester City. Discussing the speculation, Antonio Conte told the media:
“For me, if you are involved in a situation where you are not at fault, why must you pay?” the Italian said. “Why? I don’t understand this. At the end of the Manchester City game, my players tried to keep their calm. It would be a joke [if the FA imposed such a punishment on his club]. You must be honest and understand which team is at fault.”
The Blues would be the first team in 26 years to receive such a punishment if they are punished with a points deduction.
Featured Image: All rights reserved by Ungry Young Man.