Photo: official Chelsea website

Former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said he did not consider Chelsea to be title contenders and prior to Sunday’s game against Southampton, Antonio Conte responded to Ferguson’s statement.

“Chelsea not in the five? Well, I have great respect for Ferguson and I think he was a fantastic manager, a great manager, one of the best in the world,” Conte said.

“I know him and I respect a lot what he said – but I know that we are working very well.

“I think we are now in a good way to improve a lot and to become a team that can stay until the end and to get something.

“I am very happy with the work we are doing. And I’m sure that if we continue to work this way, we can have good satisfaction for our work.”