Although Chelsea have yet to lose this season, with three wins from three games, the performances have been far from perfect. The Blues have shown good fitness and are growing in tactical cohesiveness, but there's still plenty to worry about, from poor depth in the backline to lack of creativity whenever Cesc Fàbregas isn't playing.
All signs point towards Chelsea trying to address the former issue, but in a market where John Stones exits Everton for £47.5 million after a "down year", it's been anything but easy.
"With this market that it is very difficult to believe in something. I have some targets and you understand that these targets are very difficult to buy. This transfer market is very crazy and the targets are very difficult."
"At the end of the transfer market, I hope to have more players than now. I’m working with these players for only 40 days and we know we can improve a lot but it is also to important to have the right number of players in the squad to face the other teams."
"We know Chelsea is a great team and a great team must fight until the end for the title but we also know last season these players fight for 10th. It’s important not to forget this."
"I must be honest. I think that we will have a problem to reach our target but we must work to improve every day. I hope with this transfer market to improve the squad with some new players but we are understanding that our targets our difficult to reach."
"The most important thing is the work to improve the squad and improve the players. This market is very crazy and now we are seeing it is very difficult to reach our target."
Chelsea did add a new goalkeeper yesterday, completing the signing of Eduardo from Dinamo Zagreb. Conte reassured that this does not mean that Begovic is leaving.
"The situation is very clear. We have three goalkeepers now. The first is Courtois, the second is Begovic, the third us Eduardo. We needed a third goalkeeper because Blackman went on loan. We are happy to have Eduardo with us."
-Antonio Conte; Source: Get West London
Despite the heavy training load since preseason, Chelsea have had a largely clean bill of health, with only Willian missing time so far with a minor calf injury. Conte revealed that while the Brazilian has returned to training, it's unclear whether he will be able to take part on the weekend.
Conte says Willian started training yesterday but a decision has not been made on whether he plays tomorrow. #CFC
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 26, 2016
If there is a word that Conte abhors, it might be "complacency", especially after Chelsea's midweek performance. The boss expects the team to keep working to improve their form, and leave no space for surprises against Burnley.
"We played three games and we won all. But I know that - and I spoke with my players about this - that we can improve a lot. It's logical after a game there are positive and bad things - I like to show both."
"I am pleased to start in this way for the players, for the club, to take more confidence after last season. But we know we can improve and we must improve a lot."
"Burnley are a very solid team. They are always ready to go into a counter attack. Every game is very tough. If you don't have the right attention anything can happen. We saw this in the cup against Bristol. It's very tough and we must pay attention."
-Antonio Conte; Source: Evening Standard
Transfer market difficulties aside — though it's important to remember that we did sign Kanté and Batshuayi — Conte's tenure as Chelsea boos is off to a good start. Now, it's onto getting a fourth win in a row, somebody the club haven't done since December 2014. Forza, Chelsea!