Nevin: Conte’s Chelsea will not lose their focus

Life at the very top always seems easier than life towards the bottom of the Premier League pile, and while Chelsea are sitting pretty at the moment, club legend Pat Nevin believes there is very little chance of a lapse in concentration.

The Blues are currently ten points clear of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur in the standings, with just a handful of games remaining this season.

Antonio Conte has galvanised the side this term, and as they have been totally dominant so far, Nevin – a fans’ favourite during his time with the Blues in the 1980’s when he made almost 200 appearances – sees no reason why they would take their fingers off the pulse.

“For the vast majority of the players, the current position actually enhances the concentration on the purely footballing aspects,” he said.

“If the team is in a poor position there might be some furtive glances towards pastures new, but if you are playing for the best team and closing in on the title, why on earth would you waste a great deal of time looking elsewhere?

“Even if you are on the fringe of the first team, a good pro should believe he is good enough to push his way into contention instead of just giving up and throwing in the towel or the transfer request.

“The most common feeling when you are on a good run of form is to dread international weeks. The big question is will the momentum be lost during the enforced domestic break?

“I reckon that isn’t a major concern this time, things seem too controlled at Chelsea to let a little time off have a big effect.”