Chelsea have climbed to the top of the Premier League table, after Liverpool dropped points against Southampton at the weekend.
Antonio Conte has made an instant impact at Chelsea, and his fellow Italian manager Walter Mazzarri has been speaking about the possibility of Chelsea staying at the top until the end of the season.
Speaking on Italian TV show ‘Tiki Taka’ (via FC Inter 1908) after Watford’s 2-1 win over Leicester, Mazzarri was asked about Conte and Chelsea.
Mazzarri, who labeled Liverpool as the favourites to win the league a few days ago, insists Chelsea are a strong team, but clubs at the top are in touching distance of each other.
He said: “Chelsea are strong, Conte is good and then the big clubs are enclosed within a few points. The competitiveness of this championship is high.”
Conte has implemented a three man defence at Chelsea, which is working wonders for him at the moment.
Asked about it, Mazzarri added: “Juventus played the first time with three man defence and won the championship. And from there began the history of Juve who won the championships.
“It always depends on how you interpret the patterns and players that you have. With Napoli, with Sampdoria and with Watford I am able to show that you can make proactive games and it’s not about the defence of three or four.
“Here in the Premier League since Conte has put three at the back, he is getting the results. Even West Ham has used three. It means that we Italians have brought something to England.”
Mazzarri added he could have stayed in Italy, but wanted to experience English football, and it’s so far so good for him and Watford.
