Heading into this Premier League season, Chelsea FC were sort of a sexy pick by some pundits to win the league title. Most prognosticators had Manchester City the favorite, with Manchester United being given the second best odds. Chelsea FC often came in third. It seemed to be a consensus that the Blues could be the third best team in the league.
Flash forward to just a few days ago, and Manchester United legend of all legends Sir Alex Ferguson named his league title contenders in an interview.
He mentioned both Manchester clubs, as well as Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur (you can read the whole quote at this link).
However, Sir Alex left out Chelsea FC, which is odd considering how the Blues are currently right there in the top of the table logjam.
To make it even more strange, Ferguson made these comments just days after Chelsea had destroyed United 4-0 at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea boss Antonio Conte sees it quite differently, as he should. It’s more than just a coach sticking up for his team. The Blues do belong in the title conversation, and Fergie should have mentioned them in the same breath with the other five teams that he listed.
“It’s very difficult to tell now our target,” Conte said. “Because it’s early and in these games, we had difficulty against Arsenal and Liverpool.
“For this reason it’s important not to look at the table. It’s important to understand this type of work we’re doing now is good to improve and to become a strong team.
“A bit of time in the future, yes, after I think eight, 10 [more] games, I can tell our target.”
Conte said that he respects the opinion of Ferguson, although he strongly disagrees.
“I respect a lot what he said, but I know that we are working very well,” the Italian continued.
“I think now we are now in a good way to improve a lot and to become a team that can stay (in contention) till the end to get something.”
“Our ambition must be always to play to win every game. Always. It’s important,” Conte continued. “I try to transfer this to my players in every moment, in every day, every week, in every game. We must be ambitious. But to be ambitious you must work a lot.”
Conte and company are set to kickoff at Southampton in mere minutes. Here’s a link to the lineup named by Conte at St. Mary’s. it’s the same exact starting XI that destroyed United 4-0 at Stamford Bridge last week.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.