Man City clash a chance for Chelsea to prove themselves - Conte

Record ID: 75225

  • Title: Man City clash a chance for Chelsea to prove themselves - Conte
  • Date: 2nd December 2016
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (DECEMBER 2, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** NEWS CONFERENCE WITH CHELSEA MANAGER ANTONIO CONTE STARTING ASSEMBLED MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA MANAGER, ANTONIO CONTE, SAYING: "I think tomorrow it is a really, really tough game. Tomorrow is a great test for us, for our formation, to continue this way. We know it won't be easy because tomorrow we will face a really great team with great players, with a good idea of football and great organization. But also tomorrow we want to show that we are working very well and we are growing. I think that tomorrow is another step to show us if something has changed since the start of the season." JOURNALIST WORKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA MANAGER, ANTONIO CONTE, SAYING: "I have great respect for him (Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola) because Pep, he likes to study football, he likes to find always a new solution. He likes to give an idea of football to his team and it is not easy, it is not easy when you have an idea of football to transfer this (to one's players) in a few times (short time period). But I think he is a fantastic manager who is doing fantastic work with Manchester City because when you see his team I recognize him as a footballer. Tomorrow, for us, will be a very tough test." ASSEMBLED MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA MANAGER, ANTONIO CONTE, TALKING ABOUT GUARDIOLA AND HIMSELF AS PLAYERS, SAYING: "We have different characteristics. Because he was more of a pivot in front of the defensive line, me, I was more offensive, with more penetration. I think I run more than him but he thought more than me with the ball." REPORTER ASKING: "So who was better?" "No, no, no, no. I think two good players that in their career won a lot. Who also lost a lot - for me, eh? For me, for sure because I won a lot but I lost a lot of finals." NEWS CONFERENCE ENDING
  • Embargoed: 17th December 2016 15:38
  • Keywords: Chelsea Antonio Conte Manchester City Pep Guardiola
  • Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
  • City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015B6WOXR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Chelsea's Premier League game at Manchester City is a good chance to show they have rediscovered their best form following last season's problems, manager Antonio Conte said on Friday (December 2).
    Chelsea, who finished 10th in May, retained their place at the summit with a seventh successive league victory over Tottenham Hotspur last weekend ahead of the trip to third-placed City on Saturday.
    "I think tomorrow it's a really tough game. It is a great test for us, for our formation, to continue this way," Conte told reporters.
    "Tomorrow we want to show that we are working very well and we are growing. I think that tomorrow is another step to show us if something has changed since the start of the season."
    Chelsea have scored 19 goals and conceded just one during their winning run and Conte is unlikely to make changes to his starting line-up at the Etihad Stadium.
    However, facing Manchester City, who sit in third just a point behind the Londoners, will give Conte his biggest test of the season.
    City are led by Pep Guardiola, recognized by many as the best manager in the world.
    Conte was full of respect for the Catalan and even joked when asked to compare the two of them as players.
    "I have great respect for him (Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola) because Pep, he likes to study football, he likes to find always a new solution. He likes to give an idea of football to his team and it is not easy, it is not easy when you have an idea of football to transfer this," said the Italian.
    "We have different characteristics. Because he was more of a pivot in front of the defensive line, me, I was more offensive, with more penetration. I think I run more than him but he thought more than me with the ball," said a smiling Conte, when talking about Guardiola the player.
    Chelsea were thrashed 3-0 in both league fixtures against City last season, although they did record a big 5-1 victory of their own in the FA Cup.
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