Antonio Conte has refused to publicly reply to Jose Mourinho’s comments that Chelsea will win the Premier League title this season playing a “defensive” style of football.
The Manchester United manager claimed his former side Chelsea are a “very good defensive team” under Conte this term and said the Blues are unlikely to let their commanding lead at the top of the table slip in the coming months because of they way they set up.
Following United’s 2-0 win over Watford on Saturday, which keeps the Red Devils trailing leaders Chelsea by 12 points, Mourinho said: “Chelsea are very good defensive team.
“They defend very well and with lots of players and I think in this situation a very defensive team wins the title with counterattack goals and set pieces goals so I don’t think they will let it slip but football is football.”
Mourinho failed to mention Chelsea’s standing as one of the divisions best attacking outfits, with only Liverpool and Arsenal scoring more league goals than the Blues this season.
But when asked about the Portuguese’s views after Chelsea drew 1-1 away to Burnley on Sunday afternoon, Conte said: “Yeah [I heard it], but I don’t like to reply to other coaches.”
Conte did however admit that his side had found it difficult to break down Burnley, hailing the atmosphere the home crowd created for the Clarets in the contest.
Conte added: “The pitch is small and it is better for the team that defends and plays the long ball.
“You have less pitch to cover, there is a good atmosphere and I think it is right to have this type of atmosphere.”
The result at Turf Moor means the Blues sit 10 points clear of Tottenham and Arsenal at the summit of the standings, with Chelsea travelling to take on Wolves in the FA Cup on Saturday before hosting Swansea at Stamford Bridge the following week.
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