- Chelsea’s intense training schedule is coming under fire after poor results
- Antonio Conte oversees notoriously tough sessions at the club’s Cobham base
- Meticulous preparation is similar to Louis van Gaal’s style at Manchester United
The pressure on Antonio Conte is intensifying with the Chelsea manager’s ruthless training schedule coming under scrutiny.
Some of the Premier League champions’ players are not happy as Chelsea stutter in their title defence and continue to be struck by injuries.
Conte’s tough sessions last season were easier to handle with no European football to consider, but now their workload is taking its toll.
Antonio Conte’s training regime at Chelsea is coming under increasing pressure
Conte has overseen a run of poor results and has seen his squad hit by injuries of late
The 48-year-old is meticulous in his preparation for matches. As well as putting players through physically demanding tests, Conte has them sit through tactical and video sessions.
Conte has cameras at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground and uses the footage in team talks and immediately ahead of games to illustrate his points. It was a similar type of TV analysis which frustrated Manchester United’s stars under Louis van Gaal.
After a disappointing lack of activity in the summer window, Conte was left with a light squad considering the rotation he would have liked to use in different competitions.
Conte’s methods are relentless and he puts his players through intense training sessions
It has left the Italian frustrated – something he has not been afraid to hide in pre- and post-match press conferences this season.
Chelsea have been hit by injuries of late, with David Luiz and Tiemoue Bakayoko having picked up muscular knocks during their 3-3 Champions League draw against Roma.
Meanwhile, N’Golo Kante and Victor Moses remain out with hamstring issues, while Alvaro Morata is now back after recovering from his own injury.
In a lunch-time kick-off on Saturday, Chelsea face Watford at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea drew with Roma in the Champions League in midweek and face Watford this weekend