The minimum requirement remains the maximum effort
Burnley travel to Chelsea tomorrow to take on last season’s Premier League winners and it brings with it a clash between the two managers for a third time since Antonio Conte became Chelsea boss last summer.
He led them to the title last season, but what about the new season? Conte said: “I don’t know if this season will be more difficult than last season. For sure, we are champions and we have to face every game in the right way. The other teams will try to put 120 per cent in against us so we have to pay great attention in every game, have the right approach and play with the right intensity.
“I think when you start a new season it’s very important to think about ourselves and not others. To assess the other teams is not important for us. We know very well in England there are six top teams ready to fight for the title, that’s normal, and I think this season that will happen.”
Asked who he thought would be challengers, he said: “I think Everton is a really good team with a strong squad. They have Koeman who is a good coach and they are trying to take another step to try to fight for the title and Champions League. I like this because to have many teams doing that increases the level of the league. The level is already high and to improve it is okay.”
It couldn’t be tougher for Burnley, getting last season’s winner away on the opening day. “It’s a tough start, but you have to play everyone at some stage,” Sean Dyche said on having the most difficult of openers.
“We are in the Premier League for the second successive season, which everyone wanted, so you can’t pick and choose. They are a fine side but the bigger picture is it’s about a season’s work, not tomorrow.
“The first five or six away games are really tough, but we take them on, as we always do. You can’t measure yourself on one, two, three or five games. It’s about a whole season’s work, and that’s what we showed last season.”
Looking forward to the game, he added: “Chelsea have lost a couple through injuries and situations that have changed. They’ve equally brought people in, so how quickly can they mould that team? All I know is they are still a very strong group of players and it will be interesting to see.
“I think it’s fair to say Chelsea are a powerful team and will probably be right up there again this year. We have a team that is right in any given game, but if you lose a game, ok, then you lose. But if you do that while working to win that’s a different mentality and we are always working to win.
“The minimum requirement remains the maximum effort and we want a group who give everything. That’s one of our intentions, then of course to add in the detail to make the right mix.”
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