Chelsea boss Antonio Conte urges board to make January signings or risk falling behind Manchester City: 'We have to work and make the best decisions in the market'

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Antonio Conte has urged Chelsea's board to be decisive in January and insisted they will be left behind if they fail to compete with Manchester City.

Chelsea's manager is not surrendering the title his side won so impressively last season but, after a 1-1 draw with Liverpool, he believes the task has become increasingly complicated and will get even more so if the runaway league leaders do the business they want in the next window.

Conte spent the summer seemingly at loggerheads with Chelsea's recruitment team, missing out on targets such as Romelu Lukaku, Antonio Candreva, Ross Barkley and Virgil Van Dijk, and he does not want opportunities to be missed in the New Year.

Antonio Conte has urged Chelsea's board to be decisive in January and make signings

Conte wanted a host of players including Virgil van Dijk in summer, but deals never happened

He said: 'Manchester City's path is incredible, no? I think Manchester City in this season is a strong team. 

'Also last season, Manchester City were a fantastic team. Then, after the transfer market, they bought their first targets and then they have improved a lot.

'They can do this also in January maybe and in the future. For this reason, we must be worried because if we want to compete with Manchester City we have to work and make the best decisions in the market. 

Conte has warned the board the club risk falling way behind Pep Guardiola's high-flying City

'If you want to reach something important it's very important to have a good balance.'

Thibaut Courtois, meanwhile, insists the impasse in his contract talks has got nothing to do with asking for more money. 

He explained: 'I just said that we have so many games now. I just want to focus on my performance and the team. Later in the season, we will have talks.'