Antonio Conte has been speaking to Chelsea TV on a pre-match interview ahead of The Blues’s fourth Premier League encounter next Sunday.
The Italian has so far maintained a successive 100 percent victory record in charge of his new club, and will be traveling to Swansea City in hope of keeping up the great run.
Conte ensures that the responsibility is on Chelsea’s shoulders, as Swansea won’t be an easy team to beat, but claims to be happy that all players are fit after returning from their international spells.
At this moment we must focus only on our game. We know against Swansea it will be very tough. We face a team well-organised with a good manager.
It’s important to look at ourselves and not the others. Today we had the first training [this week] with all the players, because Willian arrived after training yesterday, but he had the possibility to have the same training with the assistant coach.
I am happy because I saw all the players with good fitness. The players that remained in Cobham worked very hard, and the players that came back are fit.
In the very last hours of the transfer deadline day Chelsea clinched two great defensive additions to their ranks; David Luiz and Marcos Alonso.
However, Conte has told that the two new boys are unlikely to start on Sunday.
I think the new players need a bit of time to work with a new method, a new philosophy, a new idea of football and it’s important to give them a bit of time.
For this reason their chance of playing from the start is not high.
Regardless of that. Conte has given a big praise on the returned Brazilian, who re-joined Chelsea after spending two years at Paris Saint-Germain in France.
David Luiz played both in defence and midfield during his last spell at Stamford Bridge, but Conte says he signed the player to play in a center-back’s role.
We bought David Luiz because we needed a centre-back. I know he played sometimes in midfield before but in my mind now there isn’t this idea. He has to work with us as a centre-back.
A great defender must be able to play football and defend, but the coach must improve his players. This is the most important thing for me, not only to win, lose or draw – to improve your players, to work on their weaknesses, and make the player stronger.
David has great personality, great technique, and he likes to play. I like a defender who likes to play football. I know David can improve in defensive situations. Every player until the end of their career can improve. I say that from my experience as a footballer.
Conte has even tipped the furry-headed Brazilian to become one of the world’s greatest defenders.
David Luiz is 29, a fantastic age for him to become one of the best defenders in the world. I am seeing great commitment from him. He wanted to play for Chelsea and it’s a great opportunity for him and for us to improve.
I am very happy he is a here. He is a good guy, a positive guy for the changing room, and I’m pleased with it.
Talking about Champions League, the new Chelsea manager’s intent was clear, and he wants all the players to see themselves playing there next season.
The players think the same as me – we would prefer to play the Champions League. It’s a fantastic tournament and this year we are not in it.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, when we watch it on television, it’s important for us to understand that next year we must be there.
