Southampton 0, Chelsea 2: Antonio Conte cools talk of Premier League title charge
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte insists the season is still too early in its infancy to label his side Premier League title contenders despite the Blues keeping pace with the leading pack with a convincing victory at Southampton.
The Stamford Bridge club were again quick out of the blocks as Eden Hazard netted in the opening stages before the top flight's leading scorer Diego Costa settled matters with a second-half stunner and his eighth of the campaign.
A fourth successive league victory, which included a fourth consecutive clean sheet since Conte switched to a back three, returned Chelsea to fourth place, where they sit a point behind leaders Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.
“It’s too early to speak about title contenders,” said Conte. “We have to work very hard to continue because that is the right way. We can improve a lot and we must improve and then after the first part of the season, I can tell more about this run.
“[But] I am very happy after this performance because I saw great commitment and great work rate during the game from all the players, with and without the ball. This is the right way to have great satisfaction.
“I am pleased that for the fourth game we didn’t concede a goal, it’s fantastic. We also scored two goals and created many chances. We are working very hard and this work is starting to show.”
Stand-in skipper Gary Cahill echoed his manager in playing down talk of a title charge, but underlined the importance of maintaining pressure on the teams above them.
“It’s too early in terms of any team talking about winning the league but it’s important to stay near the top,” said Cahill. “We want to be up and among it. I can’t see anyone running away with it this season.”
Chelsea were ahead against Manchester United last week within the opening 30 seconds and while it took longer to prise open Southampton’s defence, the visitors surged into the lead after six minutes.
Hazard collected a pass from wing-back Victor Moses, cut inside covering midfielder Steven Davis and crashed the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Fraser Forster for his fifth Premier League goal this term.
The Belgium playmaker has now scored more league goals in 10 top-flight matches this season than he did in 31 during the previous campaign, and he was close to a second before half time, only to be denied by the legs of Forster.
Hazard was also involved in Chelsea second goal, finding Costa from David Luiz’s short free-kick, and the Spain frontman curled a sumptuous effort from outside the penalty beyond a helpless Forster, amid comical defending from ex-Twente full-back Cuco Martina.