Antonio Conte talks of hard work from his players and from the Chelsea board.

With a vital victory over Tottenham and ten days left of the transfer window, Antonio Conte has spoken of how hard everyone is working a Chelsea to improve. 

It's been a difficult week for the club after defeat at home to Burnley in our opening game of the season, the Diego Costa situation rumbling on with additional focus being made on recent interviews he has given to the press and of a supposed crisis within the squad with players siding with Costa and not with the Manager.

The victory yesterday and the performance in particular gave a real indication that any talk of the players being against Conte are complete rubbish and that they are just as committed to him as ever. Now, to build on that win, with Eden Hazard close to return, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Alvaro Morata starting their first games, Cesc Fabregas returning from suspension and Gary Cahill back in two games, it's important that the club bring in at least two more players before the close of the transfer window.

Speaking after the game, Conte was full of praise for the Chelsea board. He said:

"For us, it's very important we only focus on ourselves. 

We know very well that a lot of teams improved if you compare with last season. But also, don't forget that this team was very strong last season. 

[Manchester United and Manchester City] They invested a lot last season. And also invested again this season. But we have to concentrate on ourselves. 

It's not important if we are not favourites in this league. It was the same last season. We know we are trying to improve our team, our squad, and the club is trying to do its best in the transfer market to try and improve the team and the squad. 

But I repeat I'm very happy when I see this type of game. I'm not speaking about football, but this spirit, this heart, this desire. I must be satisfied because my players gave me everything today. They did the same last season. 

This season we started with the first half not so good against Burnley but, in the second half, they showed me again a great spirit. We tried to change the final result and scored two goals with 10 men and nine men. 

We have to continue to consider there are great difficulties in this season, but the only way we can get through these difficulties is to work."

This is why we will never see the same situation here that happened with Jose Mourinho in his second spell as manager. That season fell apart rapidly as the players seemed to distance themselves from him and once that happened, Mourinho only had one way to go. I just do not ever see that happening with Antonio Conte because of his work ethic and he demands he puts on his players.

I love that fact that he takes no shit from anyone. If you show a lack of respect or commitment then you are shown the door as he isn't interested in having anyone here like that. Those that are here are 100% behind him and it seems that any thoughts of the board not backing him with more signings is also total rubbish and they too are with him 100%.

From all the doom and gloom in the past week there has been one thing that is true and has remained constant throughout and that's Antonio Conte's work ethic with his players. Hard work gets you results as we saw last season and yesterday at Wembley.