Monday 15 May 2017 23:32, UK
Antonio Conte has praised the performance of his much-changed Chelsea starting XI after they beat Watford 4-3 on Monday Night Football.
The Blues boss made nine switches to the side that clinched the Premier League title against West Brom on Friday, including starts for captain John Terry and winning goalscorer at The Hawthorns, Michy Batshuayi.
With a number of regular starters not in the matchday squad, Conte lauded his new-look team for their battling performance as the Italian set his sights on a club record for the number of wins in a season.
"It is great to win because I made big decisions tonight. When you change those players and you give them the chance to play from the start, a lot who did not play much during the season, it is not easy," he told Sky Sports.
"In spite of this, I always saw a team and personally, I am be pleased because every player performed very well and it is great now to celebrate with our fans.
"We have started to celebrate. We have to continue this week and to arrive on Sunday and go to lift the cup with our fans.
"I think it was a big night for us because despite a lot of changes in the team, we score four, conceded three but we won another game.
"Now we can write another record in the season if we can win the next game against Sunderland. We will win 30 games which I think is a great achievement for my players and the club."
Chelsea were drawing 3-3 with Watford as the game entered its final stages, but an 88th-minute goal from Cesc Fabregas sealed the victory for the home side.
But Conte insists he expected his side to get another goal to take all three points, adding: "I never lost the hope. I was very calm in the last ten minutes and it is strange to explain but in myself, I knew that we would score another goal."
