London, Nov 6 (IANS) Chelsea's five-match winning streak may have sent a message to their rivals in the English football league but head coach Antonio Conte has downplayed it saying that it was rather a message to themselves.
Chelsea on Saturday thumped Everton 5-0 to move to the top of the English Premier League (EPL) here. Goals from Hazard (19th and 56th minutes), Marcos Alonso (20th), Diego Costa (42nd) and Pedro Rodriguez (65th minute) saw them earn their fifth in a row.
Chelsea, the 2014-15 EPL title winners, were in the 14th spot after 11 matches last season which saw them finish a disastrous 10th spot.
But under Conte, Chelsea seemed to be again back as the title contenders. But the Italian head coach felt that it was important to improve, instead of looking at the table.
"We don't want to send a message to other teams, we want to send one to ourselves. It's important to be focused on our work. We want to improve and we are working a lot. This is the right way and the players are recognising that," Conte told Chelsea's website, chelseafc.com.
"Everton is now the past and after the international break we must start again in the same way we've left it today," he added.
However, the coach was pleased with the way his team has performed since shifting to the 3-4-3 structure. They have not conceded a goal in the last five matches.
"What was important was to win, play good football and bring our principles to the pitch. When you play five in a row and don't concede you can be satisfied," Conte said.
"Everton changed their formation and system, they tried to find a solution where it was man to man in every zone of the pitch. Every coach uses a system with different ideas.
"We have good players with great talent and we have to put them in the best situation to exploit their talent. There was a fantastic atmosphere with our supporters and we must continue to work together."
Overwhelmed by the performance, Chelsea's fans sang coach Conte's nametowards the end of the match. "It was fantastic because I didn't recognise our supporters were singing my name, and then Paolo Bertelli (first team fitness coach) told me," the former Juventus and Italy coach said.
"It's good and I said thanks because it's important for me. It's important to support me but above all my team in every minute of the game."
--IANS
pur/dg
