LONDON -- Antonio Conte warned his Chelsea players that it will be difficult to replicate their "incredible" first half of the season after a 4-2 victory over Stoke City extended their Premier League winning streak to 13 matches.
Goals from Gary Cahill, Willian and Diego Costa secured the Blues a hard-fought win against an awkward and spirited Stoke team, who matched Conte's 3-4-3 system and became the first Premier League opponents to beat Thibaut Courtois twice in a match since Arsenal in late September.
Chelsea have now equalled the Premier League record for consecutive wins in a single season set by Arsenal in the 2001-02 campaign, but Conte insists their path to the title will face more difficult obstacles in 2017.