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Press Conference Analysis: Antonio Conte on Tottenham, injuries and Chelsea’s struggles

Fri 18 August 2017 17:30, UK

The pressure is mounting on Chelsea boss Antonio Conte but he did not let it show as he cut a cool and calm figure on Friday at his pre-match press conference. Chelsea face Tottenham on Sunday in a crunch clash between last season’s top two, but Conte had praise for the opposition as he insisted that Chelsea had a lot to learn from Mauricio Pochettino’s side. Football.London report Conte as saying:

“I think they are doing a great job in this year, Pochettino is doing a great job. He has built a great base, foundation for his club. We must do the same, we don’t have these bases. We must try to do the same. I have great respect for Tottenham, they are doing a great job They are challenging for the title. I have great respect for their job, I want to help my club to build the same solid foundation, we don’t have this.”

The kind of base that Conte is referring to is likely to be the strength of the squad. Chelsea have come in for criticism for how shallow their first team squad is, and it is clearly a concern for the Italian too. Conte revealed:

“I am concerned, but only am I worried when you try to put the players very soon, the risk to have an injury is very high. That is my worry. The physical condition might not be 100 per cent and we have to take some risks.”

The manager provided an injury update on a number of key players too. Captain Gary Cahill and experienced midfielder Cesc Fabregas will miss the clash at Wembley through suspension, but Conte also had bad news about the fitness of Eden Hazard and Pedro as he said:

“Hazard is improving but to be fully fit he needs time. We must have patience with him and try to do the best for him… About Pedro, today he trained with us and he felt pain in his ankle. I don’t know about Pedro. His situation is very difficult. I don’t know if he is available for the bench on Sunday.”

On a more positive not, he suggested that two summer signings could have a role to play. He says that Alvaro Morata, who made a devastating impact with a goal and an assist from the substitutes bench last weekend against Burnley, could be fit to start, whilst fellow summer signing Tiemoue Bakayoko could be in line for a place on the bench, adding:

“About Bakayoko, he is improving very well. He is not at the top physical condition but I think he could be in contention for the game. The situation is not easy in this moment. This situation could force me to take a different decision. At the moment some players are not 100 per cent fit. Morata also is another player who needs to continue to work and improve and find the right physical condition. I have to make a difficult decision. But Bakayoko could be in contention for the game against Tottenham, why not. At this moment I don’t have other midfielders available.”

With Bakayoko unfit to start and Fabregas suspended, it is not clear who Conte will pick in the midfield role alongside N’Golo Kante. He refused to explain his thinking on the position to the media, but he did discuss David Luiz, and appeared to hint that it would not be the Brazilian who would play in the middle of the park as he said:

“In the past he [David Luiz] played in the midfield, I prefer him to play central defence. We are trying to find a different solution. He is a player to play in different solutions, it is a pleasure to have this sort of player.”

Tottenham will provide tough competition for the Blues, particularly after they beat Nencastre United 2-0 last weekend. Chelsea had a torrid start, following up their Community Shield defeat with a loss to relegation candidates Burnley at home. Conte was not surprised by how difficult his side are finding their title defence though, as he explained:

“No, I am not surprised [about the tough start to the season]. I knew very well this season would be very difficult for us. Last season we won the league, reached the final of the FA Cup with only 13 regular players. We were lucky to not have injuries, this season we have lost two players, now we have to try to continue to work with this basis… We are ready to fight to face this difficult situation, don’t find excuse. We must work, work, work to have a good present and future… The only words thought that I can tell our fans is that we are working very hard for the players to have a good season.”

Finally, there was also a word on a player who was vital last season but has no role to play in 2017/18. Discussing Diego Costa, Conte could not help but laugh at recent quotes from the striker about his treatment from the club, and explained:

“I prefer to laugh. I can tell you everyone knows at Chelsea what happened with him last season. It is funny this interview. I am not interested in continuing this situation. It is the past.”

Conte will now be keen to ensure that the future is bright for him and Chelsea, starting with a positive result against their London rivals Tottenham this weekend.

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