Antonio
Conte has laughed off suggestions Chelsea could face a points deduction for
their conduct in the mass brawl following their 3-1 win at Manchester City.
Diego Costa's fifth goal in six games secured the Blues' ninth consecutive
Premier League win on Sunday, a gritty 1-0 victory over West Brom at
Stamford Bridge.
It has been reported Chelsea face the prospect of becoming the first side to
be docked points over disciplinary issues since Arsenal and Manchester
United in 1990, for their conduct at the Etihad Stadium on December 3.
Blues manager Conte rejected the notion, though, insisting he has been at
pains for Chelsea to clean up their act.
"Are you joking? Are you joking?" asked Conte when quizzed on the prospect
of Chelsea being docked Premier League points.
City players Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho were sent off in the melee that
followed Chelsea's win in the north-west.
Aguero's horror tackle on David Luiz sparked the unrest that could now see
Chelsea losing points for the on-pitch scuffles.
Both Manchester City and Chelsea were charged with failing to control their
players. And the Blues' fifth such charge in 19 months could see the FA
imposing a points deduction.
Chelsea were last fined for failing to control their players following the
ill-tempered London derby with Tottenham at the end of last term.
Reports have now indicated the Blues were then issued a warning in writing
that any further breaches of discipline could lead to the club losing league
points.
Conte, however, has insisted he remains unfazed by such talk, claiming he is
in the process of cleaning Chelsea's house on the discipline front.
"For me, if you are involved in a situation and the fault is not your one,
you must pay? Why? I don't understand this," Conte added.
"Manchester City and Chelsea, at the end of the game, my players tried to
keep their calm. I don't understand this. I repeat, I don't understand this.
"We are trying to improve in all aspects, also in this area. For this
reason, I reply: you must be joking. You must be honest and understand which
team is at fault.
"We had a bad record in the past, but now we are different. I think that, in
every game, you fight a lot during 90 minutes and, when the referee whistles
at the end, it's important to finish.
"I don't know what happened in the past. I know what happened in the
present. For this reason, I ask if you are joking or not. After the game
between City and Chelsea, you could see very clearly that my players tried
to keep their calm."
Costa's 12th goal of the campaign handed Chelsea their ninth Premier League
win on the spin, the Spain hitman robbing West Brom's Gareth McAuley before
blasting past Ben Foster.
Chelsea have a tangible chance to break their record Premier League winning
streak of 11 matches, with Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Stoke
all still to come this month.
Arsenal boast the all-time Premier League winning run with 13, but Conte has
remained unmoved by the Blues' tilt at rewriting the history books.
"I'm not interested in the record," said Conte, with Chelsea topping the
table.
"I'm interested in gaining three points in every game because that means we
can stay top of the table, and fight for something important."
Conte believes Costa's apparent new-found ability to negotiate the
disciplinary tightrope backs up his assertion that Chelsea are turning over
a new leaf.
Costa has not been booked since Chelsea's last league loss, the 3-0 reverse
at Arsenal on September 24, leading Conte to cross his fingers the forward
can avoid any censure for the rest of the month.
"January is arriving no? It's incredible," said Conte of Costa's run without
any bookings. "After the Arsenal defeat Diego had four yellow cards and was
on the edge."
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