Chelsea manager Antonio Conte says Manchester City are stronger than ever after £200m summer spree

• e-mail

Antonio Conte says Manchester City are stronger than ever after Pep Guardiola’s side won their first big battle against title rivals at Stamford Bridge.

Conte admitted City have improved significantly after spending £200million.

He said: ‘Last season Manchester City were a very good team, very strong. I think after this transfer market they improved a lot. They strengthened.’

Antonio Conte admits Manchester City were too strong for his Chelsea side on Saturday

Manchester City won the game by a single goal but dominated for much of the 90 minutes

Conte admitted his side are where they deserve to be, having slipped behind Tottenham into fourth place, with four points from a possible 12 at home.

‘I think you have to consider that in seven games we played with Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham and also Everton. 

'I think our start wasn’t so easy. I think we have the points that we deserve.’

Conte says Alvaro Morata came off the pitch before doing serious damage to his hamstring

He also claimed an injury to Alvaro Morata, while not an outright hamstring tear, was a result of too many games coming thick and fast. 

The Spanish striker walked to the dugout complaining of a strain, and Conte said: ‘I don’t think it’ s a serious problem because he stopped before it became a serious injury. 

'He said to me, “Coach I prefer to stop myself otherwise I risk a bad injury”. The doctor now has to check the situation in the next days.

‘It’s normal when you play three massive games in only seven days, you must consider this aspect. We needed to take this risk because Morata for us is an important player.’

Conte admits Morata was too important to rest despite playing twice already this week