Chelsea boss Conte calls for character and steel for title run in

“When we started this season, our first target was to play in the Champions League next season”. Ronald Koeman will be keen for his team to perform a lot better on Sunday.

“It is not done”. “In this team I saw four, five players with good prospects”. “I hope he will be decisive in this game and from now until the end of the season”.

Koeman has vowed there would be no repeat of the result in the reverse fixture when his team suffered their heaviest defeat of the season at Stamford Bridge, as they chase a ninth straight victory at home. It was the first of two matches in which Everton failed to muster a shot on target this season.

“I can’t tell if he is “more mature” because, last season, I wasn’t the coach”.

Chelsea have scored eight goals in their last two games, while Everton will be looking to bounce back to their attacking best after a dour 0-0 with West Ham last weekend. “For us it is very important to look at ourselves, to prepare very well for this type of game”. Ryan Bertrand, at 27, would love the prospect of first-team football more than a return to Chelsea.

“In this situation, the club has the final decision”.

Nemanja Matic has warned title rivals Tottenham that Chelsea will fight to the “very last minute” of the season to seal the Premier League crown.

The 26-year-old has flourished under the taskmaster Italian after a dismal campaign last term.

“I think Lukaku, for sure, is a really good player”, Conte told a pre-match news conference ahead of Sunday’s match at Goodison Park.

Their best attacking player Eden Hazard continues to be linked to Real Madrid.

“I work every day to bring them to be warriors”. I know how hard it is to make the next step, even if you win the title. “I am not concerned about this, but at the same time we are working”. But the future? I haven’t a crystal ball, no.

Asked if Chelsea can hold onto a player in the face of a firm approach from Real Madrid, he added: “I think that everything is possible, everything is possible in football”.

Chelsea wing-back and Nigeria Super Eagles Forward Victor Moses says he gets confidence playing for Chelsea under the leadership of Antonio Conte as Manager of the Blues.

Speaking at a press conference to preview Sunday’s Premier League game against Chelsea, Koeman added: “We like to keep the best players but we know that it is hard”. We all know this but we must think of ourselves and play this game with great physical condition and organisation.

“I think, this season, he improved a lot, not only on the pitch but also, I think, he’s becoming stronger, mentally stronger”. And Eden is starting to take this step.