The London side, Chelsea, will be travelling to Liberty Stadium this Sunday to play the fourth game of the Premier League and will be looking to continue the form they are in. So far, the Stamford Bridge outfit have won all the fixtures and are enjoying their stay on the top spot along with the two Manchester Clubs.
“At this moment we must focus only on our game,” Conte said. “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.”
Most recently, the Londoners signed two defenders, namely, David Luiz and Marcos Alonso, and the manager is looking quietly impressed with the players, who ‘can improve the squad’ and who now need to work hard to ‘show me they deserve to play’. However, both the players are unlikely to start the next fixture:
“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,” Conte explained
“For this reason their chance of playing from the start is not high.”
There were many questions regarding the formation the manager can use in the future since David Luiz is now a Chelsea player. Questions were raised regarding three at the back tactic and the manager said:
“It can be an opportunity, a solution, yeah. It can happen in the future. This squad can play with 3-4-3, not 3-5-2 like the Italy national team or Juventus, because of the characteristics of the players.
“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,” continued Conte. “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.
“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.”
The final question asked was about European football, and specifically the fact we won’t be in continental action this coming midweek when it returns – the first such instance since 1996/97. Conte’s message was clear.
“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.”