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#4 Chelsea will be keen to make a statement against a big side
Conte has been straight-forward with the Blues and is reported to have laid down the law at Cobham. Anyone who is not performing up to mark will not be given any further opportunities and will be dropped from the team.
Chelsea players will be fighting for their place and to show their reaction after the shock loss at Rome in midweek. Additionally, the holders will look to show that they are still a part of the title challenge after falling 9 points behind league leaders Manchester City.
The Blues have faced Arsenal and Manchester United already but have picked up just a point from the two games, so a positive result against the bigger sides is due.
This season, Antonio Conte’s Chelsea has known the true pressure of being a top-four Premier League, when you have to win in 3-4 different competitions. Last season, Chelsea did not have to deal with the midweek drama of Champions League and the same has been taking its toll on the team in the current season. Additionally, injuries to key team members have also exposed the lack of depth in the squad.
The title-holders will look to recapitulate their old form and deny naysayers the satisfaction. Conte has been successful in striking comebacks both as a coach and a player and will be determined to not fade into Premier League history as a one-season wonder. The much-animated Italian will look toward N’Golo Kante and Danny Drinkwater to recreate their Leicester partnership and resurrect Chelsea in its title defence.
