Conte: Chelsea side working towards a perfect fit

After racking up 11 Premier League wins on the bounce, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is being touted as a fierce leader of men.

But the Italian insists he sees himself more like a tailor, who makes his squad fit into position like a perfectly-made suit.

Diego Costa’s goal at Crystal Palace saw the Blues to their third straight 1-0 win in the league, and the former champions will be top of the table at Christmas.

And Conte admits that he is not looking to change the winning formula any time soon.

“Before the season I said one thing: the manager must be a tailor,” he said. “They must try to find the right fit for your team. It wasn’t easy to arrive and understand the characteristics of my players very soon. I needed a bit of time.

“The most important thing is the mentality, a strong mentality. Also, at work during the week – tactical work, physical work, technical work, analysis work, good food – we touched different aspects to try to improve.

“You can bring your idea of football but if you haven’t the players who follow this idea it’s very difficult for a manager.

“If I don’t say I am pleased for this record I am dishonest. I am not a person who loves stats, but it’s my first season in England and to win 14 games out of 17 is fantastic.

“We have found a good balance offensively and defensively, and I think now is not a good idea to change it!”