Chelsea maintained their nine-point lead with 14 games left after an impressive 3-1 win over Arsenal on Saturday.
A result that means the Blues have lost just two of their past 18 top-flight matches. This statistics has however made players and Premier League watchers realized that Antonio Conte has created something new and lasting at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues’ winning streak is no longer a novelty item, as people now understand how the 47-year-old former Italy boss turned around a team that finished 10th last term to a strong force plus setting a new standard for the Premier League.
Chelsea stars: Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard and Willian took turns to reveal how Conte turned around the club and bringing the best out of the players by imposing high demands on his players in training and on game day.
Courtois, 24, relishes the demands from his new boss and said that has lead to his improved performances this season earning him the praise of former greats such as Iker Casillas. This, the goal keeper believes can take his play even further.
“It’s good to have a manager who is demanding a lot. You have to be at your top every week, and that makes you a champion. I think I’m on a very good level, but I know I can improve myself,” he said.
Hazard compared Conte’s daily, hands-on, tactical drilling sessions with former coach, Jose Mourinho’s lax attitude towards the game. He said: “We do more in tactics and training with Conte. We know exactly what we have to do on the pitch”
On his part, Brazilian forward, Willian said he thinks Conte’s intensity is what makes him different. Willian said: “Antonio Conte always work hard with us, prepares us precisely about every opponents, so we have good plan for each game, he is a motivator.”
With improved mentality and attitude of players, the Chelsea team are fully backing up their claims of hard work and improvement on the pitch despite the squad did not undergo as many changes as expected over the summer, thanks to Antonio Conte’s philosophy.
