The Top Flight
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Antonio Conte and his title-defending season with Chelsea

By Ashley Anthony

COBHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 04: Antonio Conte, manager of Chelsea, talks during a Chelsea Press Conference at Chelsea Training Ground on August 4, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
COBHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 04: Antonio Conte, manager of Chelsea, talks during a Chelsea Press Conference at Chelsea Training Ground on August 4, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images) /
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Antonio Conte might have the world on his shoulders after his defeat to Wenger in the FA Community Shield and their embarrassment in the opening fixture.

The Premier League is not only blessed with some of the best players in the world but has the best managers in the world as well! Battling it out against each other on the pitch and playing a chess games off the pitch, is how intense this league actually is.

It takes a lot to come to this league, state a case, and then back it up. Conte did just that and did so emphatically. He delivered the EPL title in his maiden season at a club coming out of a major slump and injected in them, a new formation and style of play.

His first ever run at the English Premier League and he nailed it in fashion! That’s a major achievement for him as a manager and deserved all the praises that came his way.

Yes, there were many things counting in favour of the Italian manager, like fewer games, a huge transfer kitty, and a title challenging squad.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 06: Antonio Conte, Manager of Chelsea looks on prior to the The FA Community Shield final between Chelsea and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on August 6, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 06: Antonio Conte, Manager of Chelsea looks on prior to the The FA Community Shield final between Chelsea and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on August 6, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) /

However, the same attributes were there for Jurgen Klopp and his Liverpool squad (Except being a world-class side that is). Conte was just the manager who used these things to his advantage.

Unfortunately, what all comes with winning the league is more fixtures and an extra trophy to play for. A trophy that has eluded English clubs for some time now.

Chelsea, in the same breath, was the last club to take Champions League glory. All the way back in 2012.

A tougher goal to accomplish and many people will know this, is to defend your title in this league. It’s become extremely difficult to retain a title in the English Premier League. One manager thought to have been able to do it was, Jose Mourinho.

He failed horribly in his attempt with Chelsea before he headed off to rivals, Man United. This is where Chelsea acquired the servers of Italian manager, Antoni Conte.

In this post we take a look how Conte could be heading in the same direction as Mourinho did a couple of seasons ago.

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