I need 2 or 3 world class stars not 8 normal players - Antonio Conte tells Chelsea management (Details, pics)

In what looks like another attack on the club’s transfer policy, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has told the Blues board that he needs two or three truly world-class signings to regain the Premier League title from Manchester City next season.

According to Conte, what Chelsea need is two or three world class players and not eight players that were bought during the summer and winter transfer window, Telegraph reports. Chelsea had a busy transfer window during the summer and winter as eight players were signed while four senior players left.

Ross Barkley, Emerson Palmieri and Olivier Giroud joined summer signings Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Danny Drinkwater, Antonio Rudiger and Davide Zappacosta as newcomers to Conte’s squad, with title-winning quartet Diego Costa, Nemanja Matic, John Terry and Michy Batshuayi among those to leave Stamford Bridge.

But for Conte, the signing of eight players this term left Chelsea without the “foundation” upon which championship-winning teams were built.

Conte said: “Now we have to struggle to fight for a Champions League place – that is top. We must be realistic. We must be strong to accept this type of situation. Then, in the future, if there is the possibility, you have to try to buy only two or three players – not eight players. Don’t forget, this summer, we brought in eight players and spent a lot less than other teams who bought only two or three.

“We have to create a basis; we have to build something important. To do this, you must have 15 or 16 players. In the summer, we changed eight players. That means you don’t have a basis, a great foundation. We must have great patience to understand the moment.

“We lost strong, experienced players in the last few years, so we must have patience to understand that, now, we have to appreciate the moment, be realistic, create a basis and then build something important to face big challenges with the other teams. “I don’t understand why other coaches are not under pressure after a defeat in the way that you are doing with me. “Don’t forget, last season we won the league as underdogs.”

Conte also claimed that the pressure he was under at Chelsea is nothing compared to that during a World Cup or European Championship.

“Not during qualification so much, but during the competition, the World Cup or European Cup, the pressure is massive,” he said. He added: “But, at the same time, you have a great satisfaction with your team – a lot of responsibility.

“The pressure is enormous, though, and I think much more than when you stay in a club.” Conte, who has only been in charge at Chelsea for 18 months, recently vowed to always speak his mind even if it cost his job.

And Wednesday’s 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth sparked fears he may not even survive the season but Chelsea have no plans to sack him.

However, the Italian tactician will be hoping to get all three points when they visit Watford on Monday, February 5.