Soccer

Everyone wants to beat Chelsea, not just Tottenham insists boss Antonio Conte

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is seeking to guide his side to a record 14th straight win in the Premier League in the course of a single season  
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is seeking to guide his side to a record 14th straight win in the Premier League in the course of a single season   Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is seeking to guide his side to a record 14th straight win in the Premier League in the course of a single season  

CHELSEA head coach Antonio Conte says no-one wants the Premier League to become a procession.

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has said everyone wants his side to win Wednesday's derby to end record-chasing Chelsea's run of 13 successive wins and Conte understands if that is the case.

"Every team wants to stop our run, not only Tottenham," Conte said.

"Don't worry about this, about the other teams, about the fans. Not one person wants to kill the championship."

Conte's Blues matched Arsenal's single-season top-flight record of 13 consecutive victories with last Saturday's defeat of Stoke. And defeat of Spurs would draw Chelsea level with the Gunners' record mark of 14 straight wins, which ended in August 2002.

Conte played down the margin of his side's Premier League lead as the second half of the campaign begins and insists the record is not on his or his players' minds: "If you see the table, you can see that we have only five points more than second place, from Liverpool," Conte added.

"This is a great achievement for us. To win 13 games in-a-row is not easy, above all in this league. This is a great achievement, above all because now, after these 13 wins in-a-row, we took 39 points. For the other situation [the record], it's not important for us.

"This league is very tough and, every game, you can lose points. For this reason, it's important to keep the right concentration, to be focused in every game, if you play against Tottenham or another team. Me, the players, want to win to take three points."

Chelsea's seventh win in the run came at home to Tottenham in late November, when Spurs became the first team to breach the Blues' defence in more than 600 minutes of league football, but still saw their 26-year wait for victory at Stamford Bridge extended.

It was suggested ending Chelsea's run would exact a measure of revenge for Spurs after the Blues ended their Premier League title hopes last term, handing Leicester the trophy.

Conte focused on his own players, adding: "I think that this type of game gives you motivation, great motivation."

Conte's men have now conceded four - after the 4-2 win over Stoke - and scored 32 in a run which has featured 10 clean sheets. Diego Costa scored his 14th goal of the season against the Potters and afterwards spoke of his desire last summer to leave Stamford Bridge. He says he is now happy at Chelsea.

Conte has no doubts that the striker, often maligned for his temperament, is now fully committed to the cause, channelling his energy in the right way on the pitch: "When Diego decided to stay and he told me 'I stay, I stay, I want to fight for this club, for my team-mates, for this shirt'," he added.

"I'm not concerned. I wasn't concerned. I think he's showing great passion in the right way, in every moment of the game. We're happy for this. Me, the club, his team-mates  because he's completely focused on the game. It's very important this."

Pedro, who scored against Spurs, is available following suspension, creating something of a selection quandary. The Spain forward has been in good form, but so too have Eden Hazard and Willian, who may be the most likely to make way, even though he scored twice against Stoke.

Conte reported no injuries. David Luiz has been playing with heavy strapping on his right knee since being the victim of the tackle which saw Sergio Aguero sent-off in the win at Manchester City last month.

"David is playing in this situation after the game against Manchester City," Conte said.

"His pain is improving a lot."

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Conte must choose between Pedro (above) and Willian for Wednesday's game  
Conte must choose between Pedro (above) and Willian for Wednesday's game   Conte must choose between Pedro (above) and Willian for Wednesday's game  

Five talking points ahead of Wednesday night's Premier League clash...

CHELSEA TO END TOTTENHAM TITLE CHALLENGE?


Spurs will need no reminding how Chelsea brought the curtain down on their title ambitions last season, when a bad-tempered 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge confirmed Leicester as champions.

There are no mathematical certainties at stake this time of course but, if Tottenham lose at White Hart Lane, they will sit 13 points adrift of their opponents, who are hardly showing the kind of form to suggest a collapse is near.

Such a gap would, almost certainly, be irretrievable.

MIGHT HISTORY WEIGH CHELSEA DOWN?


Chelsea know beating their London rivals would not only send another resounding message to their title rivals, but it would also secure them a spot in the history books. Victory for Antonio Conte's side would see them become the first English team to win 14 top-flight games in-a-row within the same season.

They would also equal the 14 Arsenal managed over two campaigns, from February to August 2002. Conte insists his players are not concerned by records, but they will be aware of what is on the line and must handle the added pressure.

CAN SPURS EMULATE FORM AGAINST BIG BOYS?


At the halfway stage in the season, Mauricio Pochettino's men are yet to lose a game against a team outside the top-six. They have won 10 and drawn four of those 14 matches, with three of those draws coming during a sticky patch in October without the injured Harry Kane.

It is their results against title rivals that have cost Tottenham so far. They have won only one of their five games against the top clubs and will surely have to improve that record if they are to challenge for the title.

Beating Chelsea would be a good start.

CONTE TO PLUMP FOR PEDRO OR WILLIAN?


Pedro's return from suspension creates a selection dilemna for Conte, who must decide whether to restore the Spaniard to the starting line-up or stick with Willian, who scored twice in the 4-2 win over Stoke last Saturday.

Dropping Willian would be harsh on the Brazilian, but Pedro has been a revelation in recent weeks, not least in the 2-1 win against Tottenham in November, when his superb equaliser before half-time changed the course of the match.

Willian offers more cover defensively, Pedro the greater threat going forward. It is a nice problem for Conte to have.

POCHETTINO TO SPRING A SURPRISE?


After relying, almost completely, on a 4-2-3-1 formation last season, Pochettino has tweaked Tottenham's shape throughout the current campaign, often due to injuries, sometimes in search of form and, occasionally, seemingly just to keep his own players on their toes.

It means Spurs are a difficult team to gauge, but Pochettino may opt for 3-4-3, which benefits his attacking full-backs, arguably the deadliest in the league, and allows the team to build possession from defence, a key component of the Argentinian's style of play. 

Chelsea have enjoyed great success with a similar system. Get set for a battle of the back-threes.