Antonio Conte hails Chelsea success after winning Premier League title

By Patrick Surlis

Sunday 21 May 2017 19:37, UK

Antonio Conte urged Chelsea fans to "enjoy the moment" after the Blues lifted the Premier League title on Sunday.

Chelsea capped a memorable title-winning campaign with a season-ending 5-1 win over relegated Sunderland at Stamford Bridge.

In John Terry's final home match, they saluted their captain with a special tribute after 26 minutes and celebrated winning the league on the pitch after the game.

Conte can secure the double next Saturday if Chelsea beat Arsenal in the FA Cup final and the Italian said he could only dream of such success when he arrived at the club last summer.

"I dreamed this," Conte told Sky Sports. "I must be honest, if you ask me, my first day at Chelsea to arrive at the end of the season and to win the league and the final of the FA Cup, it was very difficult for me to imagine this.

"It is right to enjoy this moment with our fans. This moment is very important for Chelsea. We are in a moment when it is right to build something important.

"We lost many fantastic players for Chelsea, for example [Branislav] Ivanovic and [John Obi] Mikel and now John Terry. Players that have written the history of Chelsea.

"Now it is important to create a good foundation and to build something important for the future."

Conte has become the second Italian in two years to win the Premier League title after Leicester's success last season under Claudio Ranieri.

The former Chelsea and Foxes manager watched his old team from the stand at Stamford Bridge and Conte was delighted to follow in his footsteps.

"This league is very tough," he added. "It is great to win after the last win with Claudio [Ranieri].

"Claudio did a fantastic job last season. To arrive in my first season and to repeat what Claudio did, I am proud for me and for my family.

"I think it is amazing for me, the players, the club, it is a great achievement. After a very tough season, don't forget this. But now it is right to enjoy this."

Conte also acknowledged the tactical shift to a back three proved decisive in Chelsea's season.

"This change was very important because we found the right balance and every single player enjoyed this type of situation," Conte continued.

"The key moment for us and then a lot of work. I must be pleased because I found the players who had never played this system and to change totally - a back three is very different to a back four - it was not easy.

"I found fantastic players and great men."