Antonio Conte says Chelsea must win every game to catch Manchester City and win Premier League title

Antonio Conte has admitted he feared Manchester City would beat Chelsea to the title before the season even started.

Chelsea return to West Brom, where they clinched the League last season, on Saturday trailing leaders Manchester City by nine points.

Pep Guardiola's side have won nine straight games in the top flight, with Everton the only side to deny them victory this term when they drew 1-1 in August.

Conte has consistently complained about Chelsea's business in the summer transfer window. They bought seven players for in excess of £185m, but 38 were allowed to go permanently or on loan.

In contrast Manchester City spent over £200m on five new players, with a large number of fringe and unwanted players also departing.

But when asked by Standard Sport if he was concerned Guardiola's men had overtaken Chelsea during the close season, he said: “For sure, I think they are working very well and I was worried because they were working very well in all aspects. Not only on the pitch, but off it as well.

"The reality is that Manchester City is now a real danger for every team, not only in England but all over the world.

"They have a fantastic team, a great manager, a great strategy – in this transfer market they showed they had a strategy to buy players to improve the team.

"Manchester City will be a great danger now only for this League, but for the whole world because I think they can fight to win everything.”

The Italian fears that Manchester City's form is so good, Chelsea will have to win every match to bridge the gap.

He added: "I must be honest, now Manchester City are playing very well and it's very difficult to think that you can catch them because, if they continue in this way, it will be very difficult for any team to try and fight for the title.

"But, I think, the six top teams in England have to try. No? We have to try to fight until the end.

"But, for sure, it won't be easy because I think Manchester City were very strong. They were a very good team last season.

"This season they worked very well during the transfer market and it is a team that, after this transfer market, showed themselves to be very, very strong.

"Football can be strange. It's very difficult now to predict who will win the title in this League, but Manchester City are having a path, a very positive path. It will be very difficult for the other teams.

“For sure, if you want to try and catch them, you have to win every game. Every game. As you know very well, in this League, it's very difficult to win every game.

"You have difficulty when you play against a team in the relegation zone. That's very difficult.

"For example, after the international break last time, we lost against Crystal Palace.

"We have to remember this and understand that, if we want to try and stay there and fight for the title, it's very important we keep winning and not drop more points.”