'Magician' Antonio Conte anticipated difficult title defence for Chelsea

Vaishali Bhardwaj20 October 2017

Antonio Conte has described himself as a "magician" because he predicted Chelsea would have a tough season defending their Premier League title.

The champions have already lost three top-flight games this term and, along with a spate of injuries and a few inconsistent performers in the team, Chelsea sit in fifth place in the league table.

The Blues now welcome a Watford side to Stamford Bridge on Saturday who are unbeaten on the road and who, last week, defeated Arsenal 2-1 at Vicarage Road.

With the injuries and pressure mounting on Conte, the Italian has admitted he knew this season would be tough but insists he is ready to work through the issues and find a solution to Chelsea's woes.

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When asked if he knew his second season would be as difficult as it has proved, Conte replied: "I was a magician to anticipate it.

"Honestly, I think to anticipate some difficult situations is not for all. But you hope you won't have problems in your season.

"But I stay here to work. I stay here to put all myself into this club, for the fans and the players - me and my staff. I'm a person who is not afraid to face the difficulties.

"My history speaks very clearly on that. I fought in the relegation zone.

"I started my career very badly, my first experience, but I understood and learned a lot about this.

"I repeat. I have experience, a lot of experience, as a player and as a coach of facing this type of situations. But I was a magician."

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