Chelsea boss Antonio Conte: Alvaro Morata will be a Stamford Bridge legend

GIVEN what happened against Burnley last week it won't come as much of a surprise to most that Antonio Conte will be be in black this afternoon.

Antonio ConteGETTY

Antonio Conte's Chelsea lost their opening game against Burnley at Stamford Bridge

In fairness the fella isn't exactly in mourning. It's just that things appeared to go horribly wrong when the Chelsea coach changed his normal attire for last week's curtain raiser.

So instead of the blue tracksuit he turned up in last Saturday it will be back to the familiar black suit he wore for most of last season and in which he enjoyed such champion success.

"From Sunday, I will wear my suit again," he said. "It's not a lucky suit, but if you see my past I like to stay on the bench with a suit."

That, plus a possible start for new £52million striker Alvaro Morata will, he hopes,  help bring the change of fortune Chelsea suddenly need after a such a disastrous start and a week in which wantaway rebel, Diego Costa, has dominated  the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

The former Real Madrid front man opened his Chelsea account last week after coming on a substitute, and Conte is now looking to him to take on a Tottenham team full of confidence despite playing the game at their stand-in Wembley home.

We want Morata to play regularly for Chelsea

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte

"Morata is ready to start the game," he revealed. "He needs to improve his physical condition and he needs a bit of time to reach the top, but he's in contention."

Even though he left the young Spaniard on the bench to start with last week Conte, who reiterated his commitment to the club he now considers 'my house', is convinced his new boy has what it takes to become a Stamford Bridge legend "for many years."

"Maybe £56million could be a good price for Morata and for this transfer market," he said.

Conte said that Morata needs time to build himself up from last season when he played second fiddle to Karin Benzema at Real for long periods and saw his performances suffer as a result.

Alvaro MorataGETTY

Alvaro Morata scored in Chelsea's 3-2 loss to Burnley

"We want Morata to play regularly for Chelsea," he said.

"My choices don't depend on how much he cost. We can spend a lot of money for one player and then I put him on the bench because I'm seeing this player is not ready to play.

"Morata worked in the same way like last week when he missed the penalty. This is a life of a player. To live positive or negative situation. The most important thing is to have the confidence of the coach, the club, the team-mates."

Conte is also looking to former Player Of The Year Ngolo Kante to help plug the gap left by the suspended Cesc Fabregas today.

"We all know very well the characteristics of Ngolo, and he is a player who has improved a lot on the previous season." He said.

"Last season he played with Matic and with Cesc and had a fantastic season, and he has the characteristics to adapt in both cases.

"But now we have to find another solution after always playing with Kante-Fabregas and because we don't have other midfielders available. Now Bakayoko is ready and I have another opportunity."

But while he was talking up his own players' merits Conte also made no secret of his admiration for two of today's opponents, Spurs goal king Harry Kane and his manager Mauricio Pochettino.

"I admire Kane, but I think it's normal. It doesn't mean that I don't like my players.

"Harry Kane wasn't a great player before, and my  only intention is to underline the great job Pochettino is doing. It's great."

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