Rio Ferdinand: This is what I’ve been told about Antonio Conte at Chelsea

Rio Ferdinand has claimed that Antonio Conte’s Chelsea training sessions are “mundane” to begin with but that the key to the Blues’ success this season has been the repetition of tactics at Cobham.

The Italian manager has earned plenty of praise this season following the Blues’ sparkling form in the Premier League.

Conte was brought in as Jose Mourinho’s permanent successor at Stamford Bridge last summer and has guided his side to the top of the Premier League table, with the Blues currently 10 points above second-placed Tottenham.

The former Juventus manager has been praised for the 3-4-3 formation he implemented with the Blues earlier on in the campaign.

However, former Manchester United defender Ferdinand has claimed that the secret to Chelsea’s success this season has been repetition at the training ground.

Ferdinand told The Sunday Times: “The key to sticking with 3-4-3 will be repetition, repetition, repetition.

“Chelsea play it so well because Antonio Conte lives and breathes repetition of phases of play, of game management, of team shape.

“From people at Chelsea I know his sessions are mundane. Players think initially: “What’s this?” They want to enjoy training yet he has them playing against shadows, practising their positions depending where the ball is.

“You stop and freeze and he breaks down the game for you.

“These are 30-40 minute sessions that could be boring, but when the players see it working, and the pictures he has painted in training appear in games, they believe.”

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Chelsea return to Premier League action after the international break with a crunch clash against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.