Antonio Conte has told Chelsea’s players they must play without fear to have any chance of keeping their Premier League title defence alive, starting on Saturday.
Conte’s training methods came under fire from within his own camp this week. Players are not happy with the intensity of his tough sessions as injuries pile up.
The champions are without a win in three games in all competitions, lie nine points behind league leaders Manchester City and have only one fully-fit central midfielder — Cesc Fabregas — for the visit of Watford.
The injuries are a problem Conte saw coming.