Chelsea manager Conte remains coy
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E-mail China Daily, February 14, 2017
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Chelsea boss Antonio Conte barks instructions during the Blues' 1-1 Premier League draw at Burnley on Sunday. |
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte believes six teams are in the Premier League title race despite his side going 10 points clear at the top after a 1-1 draw at Burnley on Sunday.
Chelsea negotiated a potentially difficult visit to Turf Moor on Sunday, where Burnley has the third-best home record in the division, behind the Blues and Tottenham.
But despite Chelsea's commanding lead over second-place London rivals Spurs, Conte maintained his cautious stance on his team's title chances.
"That's normal. There are 13 games before the end," said Conte, whose side's advantage will be cut to eight points if Manchester City win at Bournemouth on Monday.
"If someone thinks this league is finished, I can tell you now, no.
"There are six teams for me that can win the league and anything can happen. We must continue to work in this way.
"I am happy for the commitment and the will to win. You can only take one point, but I am sure of the commitment.
"We have to think only of ourselves, not the other teams. It is important to play your game, to think about your game and then you think about the other results."
While Spurs, who lost 2-0 at Liverpool on Saturday, are 10 points back, Arsenal, Liverpool, City and Manchester United are two points further back and ready to pounce if Chelsea falters.
Pedro shot Chelsea into an early lead at Burnley, which was looking for a sixth straight top-flight league victory for the first time in 56 years.
But Robbie Brady, the club-record $16 million January signing from Norwich, marked his home debut with a superb freekick equalizer mid-way through the first half.
"I am disappointed because our mentality must be that we have to try always to win and we did this today," said Conte.
"But sometimes you must understand that there are tough games and this was very tough, but I am pleased we tried to win.
"I am disappointed for the result, not for the commitment and the will to win. I like to always to take three points."
Mourinho mind games?
Conte was asked to respond to comments by Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho following United's 2-0 victory over Watford 24 hours earlier.
The former Blues boss is no stranger to firing barbs at rivals, most notably Arsenal's Arsene Wenger. And it appeared as if Mourinho was attempting another wind-up when he described Chelsea's style as "defensive" after the Hornets victory.
However, Conte did not take the bait.
"I don't like to reply to the other coaches," he said. "I don't like this. He is joking. I have experience to understand this."
Burnley boss Sean Dyche was delighted with his Clarets' attitude, especially having conceded so early.
"First of all, they are top class, not just by the league table," said Dyche, whose team moved up to 12th.
"Pockets of their play are excellent and you can use it as a guideline to see we have moved forward.
"The team looks more assured. You are playing against the top end of the market. The mentality as well, we have plenty of that glue to hold a team together."
Dyche paid tribute to Brady, who has proved a thorn in Conte's side - the 25-year-old Irish winger, once on Manchester United's book, netted a late winner for his country when they beat Italy 1-0 at Euro 2016 last summer.
"It was a sublime freekick against a top-class goalkeeper (Thibaut Courtois), a giant of a man," said Dyche.
"To find that area of the goal was fantastic. To get put into that game was not easy for him."
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