Conte calls for further improvement: Talent alone isn't enough in the 'supersonic intensity' of the Premier League

As Chelsea look for a fifth consecutive win in the Premier League, head coach Antonio Conte has called on further improvement from the likes of Hazard, Costa, and everyone else in the squad.

"I have experience in my career that when you have a great talent, it is important to support that with physical preparation and good organisation in the tactical aspect, and if you find all of these, you are a fantastic player. With only talent, it is very difficult to be the best. You must have good physical condition and good organisation in the team; all of these to help talent to become a complete footballer."

"For the coach it is very important to find the best solution for all the players to improve them. You start with the system, find the right one to exploit the characteristics of your players, and also you have to find the right solution to work to improve the physical condition of your players."

"In modern football you must have the talent and technique but you must run with intensity. You must have strength for the contact. For sure football has changed and here in England you play with supersonic intensity."

So far, the third solution has proven the charm for Conte and Chelsea, but underpinning all the success of the 3-4-3 has been the new boss's calls for constant improvement since day one on the job.  It doesn't matter if you're the superstar or the supersub or the superscrub, your job is to work hard, improve, and fight for the win.

"I know the great talent of Eden and he must continue to work and to improve all the time. In this moment, he is putting his talent and himself in the team. This is fantastic and the right way to become one of the best in the world.

"If you ask me the difference between [Lionel] Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo, I don't want to reply. The only thing that I want to do is work with him, and my players, to try to improve and support them."

-Antonio Conte; source: Sky

"Now Eden Hazard is playing more close to the goal and he is participating more in offensive situations. This is better for him, this type of system that permits him to stay in these positions where he can finish easier compared with last year, and for this reason I want him to continue this way. We know his talent, he is fantastic player, and I have found out here he is a player working very well without the ball and working very well with the team."

"I think the work of our strikers, it is the same with Diego, is appreciated by their team-mates. They are working very well for the team."

-Antonio Conte; source: Chelsea FC

Even now, with the team playing well in all phases of the game, there is no let-up.  As some of the players have also warned, this is not the time for complacency.  This is the time to work even harder and get even better.