Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has accused fellow Premier League title rival Pep Guardiola of playing mind games after he suggested the title is his to lose
The Blues manager has guided his side to the top of the table and sit ten points clear of Manchester City already
Sponsored by
CHELSEA manager Antonio Conte believes his fellow Premier League title rival Pep Guardiola is playing mind games.
The accusation comes after the Manchester City boss claimed that the championship is the Blues' to lose after his side's 4-0 romp over West Ham on Wednesday evening.
Speaking after the match, Guardiola said: "He (Conte) doesn't have to be too worried about what he saw today.
Keep up to date with ALL the FOOTBALL news, gossip, transfers and goals plus fixtures, results and live match commentary
"He's 10 points in front of us. Only Chelsea can lose the Premier League.
"Look at how many they've lost in the last 16. They're not going to lose four or five in the games they have left."
But ahead of Saturday's London Derby with third-placed Arsenal, the 47-year-old Italian insists his men mustn't lose focus if they wish to become champions and has responded to the 46-year-old Spaniard's claims.
Related Stories
Conte said of Guardiola's statement: "It’s normal, a mental strategy that every single coach tries to use for the players, for his players.
"Also to try and put a bit of pressure on the others. But normal. A normal strategy. I like to respect every decision for the other coaches."
When his team faced Arsene Wenger's side earlier on in the campaign, they were thrashed 3-0 at the Emirates, and at that stage wasn't even being considered for the title.
He added: "Now we are top of the League and, in that moment, I remember that we were eight points from City.
"To answer Pep, the situation can change very quickly. I think, in that moment, City had eight points more than Chelsea. After 18 games, the situation had changed.
"There are 15 games left and we must pay great attention, to reply to Pep. You understand?
"It's important to keep the antennae very high. Very important. I have a bit of experience in this type of situation as a footballer and a manager, and I want to keep our concentration very high – me, the players, the club, the fans – because we must know a lot of great teams are behind us and anything can still happen, above all if we are not at our best concentration.
"For this reason, we must be focused, stay in great concentration, and have the same anger, the same will to fight and try to win. It's important. I like to repeat to my players - look at yourselves, not at others."
A win for the Blues against the Gunners would effectively end their hopes of claiming a first Premier League crown since 2004.
Wenger's men suffered a shock defeat against Watford on Tuesday, and a defeat would leave them 12 points behind Chelsea.