Antonio Conte responded to questioning about what is making his Chelsea side struggle to compete in the title race against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City by pointing to a stronger summer transfer window for the league leaders.
Chelsea have won five of their last seven games with only a draw and a defeat since the last international break.
However, City’s 15 game winning run has seen them grow their gap at the top of the table to 14 points and Conte thinks that his rival's strong summer window has really set them apart.
“I don't know about this. For sure, for sure, Manchester City improved a lot [in the transfer window].” Conte said to reporters. “Improved a lot the team.
“But when you buy players like Ederson, a top goalkeeper, then Walker, then Mendy, then Bernardo Silva, then Danilo... for sure you improve your squad, improve your quality in your squad. Especially, I repeat, if you are able to take the first targets.”
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Manchester City had all their signings before the Premier League season started and all of them arrived before August began. Meanwhile, Chelsea secured two deals on deadline day and signed Tiemoue Bakayoko despite him carrying a knee injury.
Conte was asked whether these late deals have affected the title race but he simply responded that “every club has their own strategy, yes.”
The 47-year-old will sit down with Chelsea soon to discuss the areas of his squad that he needs to strengthen in the fast-approaching January transfer window, though the manager doesn’t get the final say on who the club signs with Chelsea’s director Marina Granovskaia signing off on any major spending from the club.
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