Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Gary Neville outlines the four challenges now facing Antonio Conte at Chelsea

Conte's team have swept all before them this term but Neville believes he has a number of issues he must address if they're to continue their success next season

Ben Burrows
Tuesday 16 May 2017 10:26 BST
Comments
Chelsea have swept all before them this season but have challenges on the horizon
Chelsea have swept all before them this season but have challenges on the horizon

Gary Neville believes Antonio Conte faces four challenges if he is take this Chelsea side to the next level.

The Blues secured the Premier League title with two games to spare and could yet add the FA Cup to it with victory over Arsenal in 10 days time.

Conte's team have swept all before them this term but Neville believes he has a number of issues he must address if they're to continue their success next season.

5 key moments that won Chelsea the title

Neville thinks the Blues' lack of European football has been a big advantage over their title rivals, an advantage they won't be afforded next term.

"The 38 changes Chelsea made this season, along with Leicester's last season, are the lowest-ever number of changes by a team that has won the Premier League, by a long way," he said on Sky Sports Monday Night Football.

"We have seen in the last two years with Leicester and Chelsea, and also Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool when they weren't in Europe and nearly won it. The biggest challenge I think moving forward is physicality."

It's not only physically where Chelsea will need to be resilient, they must be mentally tough too.

"These are the same players that have let Chelsea down before, they have dropped off, climbed the mountain and then can't get themselves up for the next season," he added.

"I can't imagine they are going to drop to 10th next season, but Conte's big job over the summer is re-motivating those players."

Costa has been linked with a move to China or a return to Atletico Madrid

Diego Costa's future remains firmly up in the air with a move to the Chinese Super League believed to be a real option for the Spanish striker.

But Neville believes, whether he stays or he goes, Conte has work to do to in the forward positions.

"If he stays he's certainly not going to be able to play in 93 per cent of the team's minutes (as he has this season)," he added. "I just cannot believe he'll be able to repeat that next season.

"So how will he be able to rotate if he stays or how will he be able to replace that personality if he leaves."

Both Manchester United and Manchester City have flattered to deceive this season and will finish the year a long way off the pace.

But Neville envisages a stronger response from both next term, something Conte and Chelsea must be prepared for.

He said: "The last challenge is that he is going to have two Manchester clubs who are going to be throwing £300m to £400m at it between them, who are hurting and who are under significant pressure next season to deliver."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in