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Chelsea players wrestle with giant inflatable balls in bid to prepare for Arsenal clash
Antonio Conte is using some rather unusual training methods in a bid to prepare his players for Sunday's Premier League match with Arsenal.
Chelsea welcome Arsenal to Stamford Bridge on Sunday as they bid to extend their Premier League winning run to four straight matches.
Just three days after thrashing Qarabag in the Champions League, Chelsea's players were all smiles as they took part in a number of exercise routines involving giant blue yoga balls.
As well as using the balls for a number of stretching routines, Conte's men entered into a series of one-on-one wrestling drills as each player attempted to pull the ball from their opponent's grasp.
Conte is expected to continue his squad rotation policy on Sunday with Cesc Fabregas likely to miss out against his former club.
The former Juventus manager defended his decision to ring the changes for Chelsea's Champions League vcitory over Qarabag as Davide Zappacosta scored on his full debut for the club.
"First game in the Champions League, I decided to start with a rotation. We have to start a process to improve our players," said Conte.
“Davide has said he wanted to cross, but he scored and it was an important goal for us.
“I’m really pleased with his performance. Now we have to continue to play with him and the other players. Tonight I had a positive answer from my players.”
“He played a really good game. Now he has to continue to work to improve, but for sure, Davide knew very well my style and idea of football. For this reason I decided to start with him. He was prepared to play, and played very well.
“It’s not easy to change your sporting life totally in only one week, but the answer was really good.”
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who missed a penalty against Arsenal in their Community Shield defeat earlier this summer, said his teammates are in good spirits ahead of Sunday's London derby.
"It is good to face Arsenal now. Everybody is healthy and things are going well. We won at Leicester, won comfortably (on Tuesday night) and will go into the Arsenal game with a good feeling," said Courtois.
"Arsenal had a few bad matches, but won comfortably (against Bournemouth) last weekend.
"For us and for them it's a big game because we are third in the table. Obviously we want to close the gap (to Manchester United and Manchester City) and take points off Arsenal as well."