Chelsea boss Antonio Conte on fixture schedule: Rivals are just jealous of our success

Posted Wednesday, January 04, 2017 by Express.co.uk

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte on fixture schedule: Rivals are just jealous of our success
Antonio Conte insists Premier League rivals are just jealous amid whining of fixture schedule

ANTONIO CONTE believes rival managers whining about Chelsea's Christmas fixture schedule are simply jealous of their success.

The Premier League leaders face Tottenham tonight at White Hart Lane four days after they beat Stoke while title rivals Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United have all played two games in three days.

Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have both complained Chelsea have been given an unfair advantage, former Stamford Bridge chief Jose Mourinho branded them the "Privileged Ones", and Arsene Wenger insisted it was the worst festive fixture schedule he had ever encountered.

But Antonio Conte, whose team go into the crunch London derby on a run of 13 League victories and could stretch their lead to eight points, brushed off the moans as he said: "I didn't do the fixtures. That's the simple reply.

"Would I be angry if I was them? No, I think they are angry because of our position, not for the fixtures.

"It's normal. This also happens in Italy. It's always because you stay up at the top.

"During a season different situations can happen when you can have an advantage, but for sure not this one."

Conte, whose team can establish a new top-flight record if they make it 14 wins in a row tonight - beating the record Arsenal set in 2002 - believes this could be Chelsea's toughest test yet.

"It is important to only think about ourselves, not look at other teams," he said. "At the start of the season no-one could imagine this."

Tottenham, who saw their title hopes last season ended when they were held 2-2 at Stamford Bridge in May, lost 2-1 at Chelsea in November.

Conte wants to strengthen his squad in the transfer window, with a bid for Atalanta’s £24million Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessie imminent.

He is also considering a surprise move for West Ham winger Michail Antonio, who impressed when his side knocked Chelsea out of the EFL Cup in October.

Antonio, 26, has struck eight goals this season and can play as a wing back or in midfield.