Chelsea have no new injuries after the global break, though Luiz and Alonso are unlikely to start against Swansea City and Kurt Zouma remains unavailable.
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Swansea striker Fernando Llorente, meanwhile, believes they will be facing this season’s Premier League champions when Chelsea visit the Liberty Stadium. He wants to play for Chelsea. “I think, because of the characteristics of the players, you can play 3-4-3”. “In different positions I am available”. I put my sweat into my players. “This is important. Then, when we start to work, we work”.
“I am happy because I saw all the players with good fitness”.
David Luiz hopes to win the Premier League for the first time with Chelsea after re-joining the club in a surprise transfer deadline day move.
There’s one glaring miss in his trophy case, though: the English Premier League.
Chelsea, champions under Jose Mourinho in 2014/2015, finished 10th last season, which was a lowest league finish for some 20 years.
David Luiz is once more a Blues player – but what can he offer this time round?
The Italian also added that the new signings will have to adapt to his system and work hard on the training pitch to find a place in his team this season.
“The objective is not only to finish in the top four, but to fight for the League, FA Cup and League Cup because we have to win trophies”.
Conte subsequently indicated he intends to utilise Luiz at the heart of the defence.
“I think the new players needed a bit of time to work with a new philosophy”, Conte said ahead of Sunday’s trip to Swansea.
“I know sometimes he’s played as a central midfielder but in my mind the idea is to utilise him in the right position which, for me, is centre-back. He has played at Chelsea before and will bring good personality to the team”. If someone thinks this player loses his concentration during the game, my task is to improve him in that aspect.
“For this reason their chance of playing from the start is not high”.
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And Conte is keen to remain focused on Chelsea, while maintaining an interest in the outcome of the Manchester derby.
