Chelsea

Willian: 'Chelsea just as strong as last season'

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 23 September 2017

Chelsea midfielder Willian believes that the Blues remain as strong as they were last year despite several high-profile departures over the summer.

Chelsea midfielder Willian has claimed that the Blues remain as strong as they were last year despite several high-profile departures.

The Premier League champions allowed long-serving captain John Terry and influential midfielder Nemanja Matic to leave the club in the summer.

Diego Costa, meanwhile, fell out with manager Antonio Conte and has refused to play for the club, sealing his departure to Atletico Madrid this week.

However, Antonio Rudiger, Alvaro Morata and Tiemoue Bakayoko have been brought in to replace the departed trio, which means that nothing has changed, according to Willian.

"These players are great players, we miss these players, but Chelsea always try to bring players with quality," the Brazilian told Sky Sports News.

"I think the players that arrive have the quality to play here and the squad and the team are still strong. And we have to push till the end of the season.

"It is difficult to talk about that because of course when you lose players like that, it is bad. But we have great players here and we have to be happy if you are here, or in Manchester or Madrid.

"It is the same, nothing changes. Of course the players change, but the way we play, nothing changes, we always train in the same way, we always have a plan to come to the game, nothing changes."

Chelsea currently sit third in the Premier League table.