Perfectionist Antonio Conte unhappy with West Ham’s late goal against Chelsea

The always energetic Kante would find Hazard, who would combine with Pedro and round off a fine team move with a finish around Darren Randolph to give the champions-elect the 1-0 lead in the 25th minute.

Chelsea are the seventh side to accrue 66-plus points from their first 27 games of a Premier League season, having done it themselves twice before (69 in 2005-06 and 68 in 2004-05). They are a side that are not only crammed with fantastic players but Antonio Conte has got them set up in a classic Italian style to deal with whatever the opponents throw at them. “We’ve been doing the same things all season”, Cahill said. “We played under pressure and our answer was very good”.

“If everyone’s aware of that, and we keep the hunger and focus that’s in the squad, we’ll be okay”. It won’t be easy. The former has emerged as the popular favourite but the latter has truly been Chelsea’s outstanding performer this season. They look in good shape.

West Ham’s Manuel Lanzini grabbed a consolation in added time, but the result was never in doubt. They need 29 points from the Blues’ remaining 12 games to be mathematically sure of lifting the trophy.

Antonio Conte is expected to come to an agreement with Chelsea over a new deal following links with Inter Milan and Barcelona, Goal understands.

Things almost went from bad to worse for the hosts moments later when Marcos Alonso found himself in an advanced position on the left and he showed quick feet to get past a couple of defenders before lifting his shot just wide of the right post. “It’s a pity to give away a second clean sheet at the end of the game, the second after Arsenal – we must work a bit on this aspect”.

“Had West Ham scored after 85 minutes, we’d have been in trouble”. While those aren’t immaculate numbers, no other title challengers are capitalizing on Chelsea’s minor blips.

Chelsea then went further ahead five minutes into the second half when Hazard’s corner skimmed off the head of West Ham’s Pedro Obiang and straight to Costa who could not miss. “To be fair, all of their counter attacks looked risky”.

Monday’s game against West Ham, meanwhile, left everyone marvelling at Kante’s speed when he effectively “passed to himself” down the left flank. Costa believes that while their fellow Londoners posed a hard test at the old Upton Park, they have not become accustomed enough to their new home yet. That’s 100 per cent. Conte’s men looked so comfortable thereafter, as they controlled proceedings and kept the home side at arm’s length for the remainder of the encounter.

“Most of all how physically in good shape they are”.