Conte insists Chelsea must ‘start in the right way’ in cup

Oli Fisher
Antonio Conte: Has high hopes for new players

Antonio Conte: Has high hopes for new players

Chelsea host League One side Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night, and boss Antonio Conte has urged his side to continue their winning ways.

Victories over West Ham and Watford in the Barclays Premier League have opened Conte’s reign in perfect style ahead of their second-round tie in the EFL Cup at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are expected to make changes against their Sky Bet League One opponents, but boss Conte expects whoever plays to extend the winning run.

“Losing always leaves sad things in you,” the Blues manager said.

“You can lose your confidence and for this reason it was important to win these two games because you can continue to trust in the work and raise the confidence of the players.

“For these reasons it was important to start in the right way for all of us. Now we must continue and we have a great chance to continue in the next game at home.”

Conte could give Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi his first competitive start at the club if he chooses to rest Diego Costa.

Batshuayi, a £33.1million summer signing from Marseille, made impressive contributions from the bench against West Ham and Watford and is pushing hard for a start.

Midfielder John Obi Mikel is not expected to be available until the Premier League clash with Swansea on September 11 after helping Nigeria win a bronze medal in the Olympics.