Antonio Conte told these five Chelsea players key to title challenge
Pat Nevin believes Chelsea's Spanish contingent holds the key to their Premier League title challenge
Chelsea’s Spanish contingent could hold the key to their title prospects this season, Pat Nevin has claimed.
The Blues made a disappointing start to the Premier League season following a 3-2 loss to Burnley at Stamford Bridge on the opening day of the season.
However, Chelsea have bounced back in typical champions’ fashion with three successive top-flight wins to hoist them up to third place in the table.
The west London side were 2-1 winners against title rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley before a 2-0 victory over Everton at Stamford Bridge last month.
Antonio Conte’s side effortlessly dispatched 2016 champions Leicester City last weekend thanks to goals from Alvaro Morata and N’Golo Kante.
The former Real Madrid striker is one of five Spanish players in Conte’s first-team alongside Cesar Azpilicueta, Cesc Fabregas, Pedro Rodriguez and Marcos Alonso.
And ex-Blues winger Nevin credited the Spanish quintet with driving Chelsea forward in the Premier League title race.
“Chelsea had five Spaniards playing together last week,” Nevin told Irish radio station Newstalk ahead of Chelsea’s home clash against Arsenal on Sunday.
“Half of their outfield players were Spanish last week. Every time they had the ball, they looked for each other.
“The understanding is pretty spectacular. This goes all the way back to AC Milan with the three Dutchmen.
“Mates on the field can be mates off the field. That’s probably Chelsea biggest strength right now – that Spanish connection.”
Alonso scored either side of half-time in Chelsea’s 2-1 win against Spurs.
Summer signing Morata has already scored three goals in four games.
