Conte: Chelsea work rate and commitment deserves credit

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has directed credit at his players after his side’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace equalled the club’s longest winning-record.

The win over Palace takes their winning run to 11 as they continue to sit top of the Premier League and nine points clear in the table.

"It's another win and I think we deserved the victory," Conte said. "We played with a great concentration.

"I'm pleased with the commitment from my players. We deserved to win. We scored the goal and then we created chances to score another one. It wasn't easy.

"To win our 11 games in a row it's fantastic and I'm pleased for my players because they deserve this. I see every day their commitment, their work rate in training, how they live the game and it's fantastic.

"I think the most important thing is we are a team. We are a team in every moment of the games. When we have to suffer, we suffer together. When we have to play football, we play good football. I hope to continue to work in this way to improve."

However, yellow cards for Diego Costa and N’Golo Kante means both will miss Chelsea’s St Stephen’s Day clash with Bournemouth with Conte saying he has eight days to work out how to plan for life without his star striker.

"Diego is playing very well," Conte commented. "He's playing for the team and that's the most important thing for us.

"I'm pleased for him, for his team-mates and also for our fans. They are pushing a lot during the game and we are happy to give them this satisfaction.

"He didn't deserve the yellow card today, I must be honest, but against Bournemouth we have eight days to find a different solution.

"For me, this can be an opportunity to see other solutions or other ideas. But, if you ask me if I'm disappointed to lose him and Kante, yes I'm disappointed."

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