Chelsea
manager Antonio Conte fears he could fail to bring in the defensive targets
he is seeking before the transfer window closes.
The Stamford Bridge boss has made big-money signings in Michy Batshuayi and
N'Golo Kante this summer, while goalkeeper Eduardo also moved to the London
club this week.
Conte feels defence is still an area he needs to strengthen but has been
unable to do a deal for Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly and Alessio Romagnoli of
AC Milan, with a bid for the latter being rejected.
Now he is worried he will be left short of adequate options at the back
because of an inflated market and said: "I must be honest, I think we'll
have a problem to reach our targets.
"I hope, through this transfer market, to improve the squad but we
understand our targets are very difficult to reach.
"I think the most important thing is to work to improve the squad and
improve your players. You know that when you start the season it is already
very tough.
"It's important to have many players to face these situations, but this
market is very crazy and we are seeing that it's very difficult to reach our
targets.
"I've been working with these players for only 40 days and we know we can
improve a lot, but we also know it's important to have the right number of
players in the squad to face all the other teams.
"We know Chelsea is a great team and a great team must fight to the end for
the title. But also we know last season the players were 10th. Not fourth,
fifth or sixth, 10th! Don't forget this."
Conte, whose team hosts a Burnley side this Saturday which defeated
Liverpool last weekend, maintains Eduardo's arrival does not equate to
second-choice Asmir Begovic moving on.
He added: "The situation is very clear. We have three good goalkeepers now -
first (Thibaut) Courtois, second Begovic, third Eduardo."
Chelsea will give Willian a fitness test before a game which Conte is wary
about after the manner of Burnley's win against Jurgen Klopp's side.
The Italian continued: "It's incredible as only one year ago people were
paying attention to the possession ball.
"But against Liverpool, Burnley had 25 per cent and Liverpool had 75 per
cent, and yet the result is 2-0 to Burnley!
"For this reason I told my players to pay attention. I hope the team will
push to win. This is the English league and every game is very tough.
"Every game you must face with great attention and you must understand that
if you don't have the right attention, anything can happen.
"Burnley are a very solid team in defence and always waiting to
counter-attack with two very good forwards. We must pay great attention when
we are attacking, there is the danger."
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