Antonio Conte has stated that Chelsea must ensure that they make smart moves in the transfer market if they are to keep up with Manchester City.
Chelsea surrendered more ground to Manchester City on Saturday afternoon after only managing a draw with Liverpool. City then struggled against Huddersfield Town, but came out on top in a contest that proved their title credentials. Antonio Conte spoke about the league leaders and confessed that the transfer market is key for the Blues.
"They bought their first targets and improved a lot…we must be worried because if we want to compete with Manchester City we have to work and then make the best decisions in the transfer market. – via The Telegraph"
City were like a kid in a sweet shop over the summer. Pep Guardiola played the role of the excited youngster, with a list of the sweets he wanted. City’s hierarchy played the role of a lenient parent, indulging the child and paying for it all.
As a result, City finished their business early, giving them enough time to gel as a squad and prepare for the upcoming season. As their performances have shown, it’s a tactic that has worked.
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Chelsea, meanwhile, lost out on their prime transfer target – Romelu Lukaku. In the end, they appear to have come off better with Alvaro Morata outscoring the Belgian. Nonetheless, the Blues have been lucky in what was an initial failure.
Conte knows that the club will need to sign a few more quality players to rival City’s depth of quality. They cannot afford to stumble like they did in the summer. Apart from Morata, Danny Drinkwater and Antonio Rudiger were the two other significant arrivals. Neither of them are world-class players.
Chelsea’s first-choice starting eleven is a top team. They could beat any club on the continent. However, the season doesn’t depend on one game. The Blues’ squad is weak. Even if there are decent players who can plug holes, City have fantastic players who can step in.
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As the January transfer window approaches, expect Chelsea to be surprisingly busy. The title may already be lost by then, but deep runs in the cup competitions will be difficult to achieve with this squad. What signings do you think the Blues should make? Let us know in the comments below!