Steely Blues show title mettle

Conte hails side for not wilting under pressure

BOURNEMOUTH, England - Chelsea manager Antonio Conte praised his team's ability to handle the pressure of the Premier League title race after its 3-1 win at Bournemouth on Saturday.

Before Chelsea kicked off on the south coast, Tottenham Hotspur beat Watford 4-0 to move to within four points of the league-leading Blues.

But Conte's side was seldom in danger as it restored its seven-point advantage.

Chelsea's Marcos Alonso (center) is congratulated by Cesar Azpilicueta (left) and Gary Cahill after netting his side's third goal during their English Premier League match at Bournemouth on Saturday. The Blues emerged 3-1 victors at Dean Court to regain their seven-point lead over second-place Tottenham in the standings. Matt Dunham / AP

The Londoners were 2-0 up after 18 minutes through an Adam Smith own-goal and an Eden Hazard strike before Joshua King replied for the Cherries three minutes before the break.

But man-of-the-match Marcos Alonso made the game safe in the 68th minute with an exquisite freekick to leave Conte delighted.

"Yes, I'm satisfied because it wasn't easy to play this game after the win by Tottenham, but our answer was very good," said the Italian.

"We started very well with a will to win the game. It was a pity to concede the goal and we suffered a bit.

"But in the second half I think we managed the game very well and scored a second to improve the result against a really good team, with good organization and a good coach. We must be pleased with the game.

"It's not easy to play after Tottenham, but I think it's normal in football that when you play after your opponent you see that the opponent is very close to you and you feel a bit of pressure.

"But I'm happy to face this kind of situation, to play with only four points' advantage. I like the pressure, to live with pressure. If I don't see pressure, I put some on. When you have pressure, you give the best of yourself. We accept it."

'Don't smell victory'

Chelsea fell to a shock defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend but bounced back to beat Manchester City in midweek and then Bournemouth.

However, Conte does not believe his side is guaranteed the title yet.

"I don't smell victory yet because there are seven games to go. We have a schedule that's not easy and we know this," the 47-year-old said.

"It's important to go game by game. After losing to Crystal Palace, we played City and could have dropped points, and today we could have dropped points.

"Instead, we won both games. We have to go on in this way, game by game and stay concentrated.

"For sure, Tottenham have a great desire to win the title and we must have the same desire.

"Don't forget that last season they played for the title and we were tenth, so they are a really good team.

"I think Tottenham are stronger than last season, they reinforced their team with really good players."

And Conte thinks it is now a two-horse title race between Chelsea and Spurs.

"It's just us," he said. "There is a space between us and the other teams.

"It's logical that if we and Tottenham continue to win, it will be a race between us."

Diego Costa has now gone five Chelsea matches without scoring but it was his shot that Smith deflected into his own net, and the Spain international went close twice more.

"I'm happy with his performance," Conte said. "In this moment Diego is not scoring but he's totally involved in the team and he continues to work with commitment and desire."

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe accepted the better team won.

"They are hard to play against," he said. "At Stamford Bridge we tried to play their way and lost 3-0. Today we played our way and that didn't work either."

Agence France-Presse