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Claude Puel says Southampton’s sloppy start cost them against Chelsea

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Claude Puel admitted Chelsea’s early goal in their 2-0 win at St Mary’s was the key moment as Southampton struggled to break down Antonio Conte’s men.

Goals from Eden Hazard and Diego Costa ensured Chelsea picked up all three points on Super Sunday.

Conte’s side now sit in fourth place in the Premier League - just one point behind leaders Manchester City, who are ahead of Liverpool and Arsenal on goal difference.

Southampton boss Puel bemoaned Hazard’s sixth-minute strike, with the early setback making it tough for his team.

“We conceded a goal after just a few minutes and [that makes it] very difficult against this team as they can stay behind with a good block and play on the counter-attack,” Puel said. "We weren’t clinical enough today and against this team it’s difficult.

“They can do the damage with all these good players. It’s a pity for my players because we tried to play good football and we had some chances and against Chelsea it’s important not to concede an early goal. But that’s life.”

Saints managed to muster nine shots at goal, but only found the target once - much to Puel’s frustration.

“It was very hard - they defended very well every time,” Puel said. “It’s difficult to play against this team, because they have a good counter-attack and they are good defensively. We tried, but it was difficult to find a solution. Against great players it’s difficult.”

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

Southampton 0-2 Chelsea: Puel backs Saints for Inter recovery

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Claude Puel has backed Saints to recover from their first home defeat in eight months when they take on Inter Milan, but has warned his side to expect the same problems from the Italians as Chelsea caused in their 2-0 victory.

Saints welcome the three time Champions League winners to St Mary’s on Thursday night in an historic fixture for the club, and a vital one in the context of their Europa League campaign.

However, they go into the match having been well beaten by Chelsea, who ended Saints’ unbeaten 13 game streak at St Mary’s.

Puel believes Inter will try to play in a similar way to Chelsea, which Saints couldn’t quite to grips with.

He warned: “Of course it is important to have a good recovery after this game because we gave a lot of effort to play and to give a solution on the play.

“Now it’s important to recover but we go to normally to play a team now in the same profile with strong players and they will go to try to counter attack against us.

“It’s important now to recover and to prepare this game with a good feeling and to feel the same game against them and I hope a good result of course.”

Puel was satisfied with aspects of his team’s performance against Chelsea, but felt that conceding early in both halves meant Saints were always on the back foot.

Chelsea were in full flow when they attacked, while Saints were a little stifled, managing just one shot on target in the 90 minutes, and that from a free kick.

“I said before the game it was interesting to play a great team and the final result said that,” reflected Puel.

“It is difficult to accept the result because I think we do a very good start on the game with good pressing, good recovery, quality on the play.

“After it was hard to think to take a goal just in the first action of this team.

“This first goal I think changed the profile of the game of course because the confidence of this team in their play was strong work with the lines closed on the pitch and after good attacks.

“They can take spaces and players like Eden or Costa, it’s difficult after to resist.

“I am satisfied with the first half because we were trying to play football with good possibilities but just to make some quality to finish our action with goals and quality on the pitch it was interesting.

“After the second goal our performance was difficult to come back and we left spaces and Chelsea is a good team and it is normal because we try to find a solution to attack and to have all the possibilities.”

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 31/10/2016 00:11:49

| | Liverpool and Premier League champions target 21-year-old flourishing full-back | ShootSHOOTCOUK |
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| Sadio Mane pinpoints the reason for his strong Liverpool start | FootballSPORTREVIEWCOM |
| | Liverpool want to raid Southampton for youngster Sam McQueenNINETYMINUTESONLINE |
| | Claude Puel: Southampton players tired after Chelsea’s early goalSQUAWKA |

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Romeu targets response against Inter

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Oriol Romeu says Southampton are focusing on beating FC Internazionale after losing their first home game of the season.

Saints were defeated 2-0 by Chelsea in the Premier League at St Mary’s on Sunday, and Romeu wants the squad to get back to winning ways as quickly as possible.

"We have to come back now,” he said. “We don’t want to lose two in a row.

“The season is very long and we need to come back. We have been very good recently, and the feelings are bad today because we have lost. We are being honest with ourselves, but we need to look forward and we need to be proud as well.”

St Mary’s is set to host another sell-out crowd on Thursday, and Romeu says Claude Puel’s men will be looking to reward that support.

"I think the fans will be behind us,” he said. “It will be a nice night and hopefully we can get a good win, and get those wins back again.

"It’s the first one we have lost, but we have to stop it as soon as possible and we have to come back stronger and better.”

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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

It wasn’t #SaintsFC’s day, as #CFC came out on top.

Watch the moments that mattered from St Mary’s: https://cards.twitter.com/cards/rh0us/2hbdr

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Puel: Focus now on Inter

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The Italian giants visit St Mary’s for a crucial UEFA Europa League group stage match, two weeks after they edged out Southampton 1-0 at San Siro.

Having lost at home for the first time in eight months, as the Blues triumphed 2-0 on Sunday afternoon, Puel says Saints must swiftly move on, and is not expecting his players to suffer any ill-effects from the defeat.

“Now it’s important to recover,” he said. “This game is finished and the more important now is Inter Milan.

“We tried to play good football and to give all the possibilities. I am enjoying my players’ work.

“We perhaps made some mistakes today, but we played a strong team. We conceded a goal very quickly, and after that it was easy for them to make a counter attack.

“It was a great team and it is not a problem for us for the future. We keep the good spirit and the good attitude.”

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Match in a Minute: Southampton 0-2 Chelsea

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Jamie Redknapp gives his thoughts following Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Southampton at St Mary’s.

Chelsea made it four Premier League wins in a row and moved to within one point of top spot with a 2-0 win over Southampton at St Mary’s on Super Sunday.

Eden Hazard netted for the third league game in succession before Diego Costa curled home a sumptuous second to end Southampton’s eight-month unbeaten run at home.

Hazard has now scored more goals (5) in this Premier League season than the last campaign (4), while Costa is now the leading goalscorer in the league with eight goals.

Since being dispatched 3-0 by Arsenal and switching to a back three, Chelsea have taken maximum points and kept four consecutive clean sheets.

The victory moves Antonio Conte’s men into fourth place on 22 points, just one point off Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool, who are all level on 23.

Watch the video above to see what Jamie Redknapp made of the clash.

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:movie_camera:

Watch highlights from #SaintsFC’s defeat to #CFC, as Claude Puel’s men are beaten at St Mary’s: https://cards.twitter.com/cards/rh0us/2hbdp

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 31/10/2016 01:12:40

| | Eden Hazard did a little dance before 2nd half kicked off v Southampton101GREATGOALS |
| | Antonio Conte hails Chelsea fans after Southampton winGETWESTLONDON |
| | EPL 2016/17: Southampton 0-2 Chelsea - 5 talking pointsSPORTSKEEDA |
| | Steven Davis: Southampton were undone by “organised” ChelseaSQUAWKA |

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

Southampton 0-2 Chelsea: Conte warning for title rivals

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Antonio Conte warned that Chelsea will get keep getting better after they kept the heat on the Premier League pace-setters with a 2-0 victory at Southampton.

Convincing wins for Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool on Saturday had put pressure on Conte’s men as they faced a Saints side unbeaten in five matches.

But goals from Eden Hazard and Diego Costa ensured they responded with a comfortable triumph to stay a point behind the top three.

The Blues registered a fourth straight league win for the first time since April 2015, when they were coasting towards their last title.

Ominously for their rivals, they have scored 11 goals in those four games and conceded none, with their three-man defence holding firm once again without captain John Terry.

But boss Conte insisted: "In this moment it’s not important to look at the table.

"The most important thing is to work hard and trust the work. Now, game by game, I’m seeing a lot of positive things.

"I have confidence because we can improve a lot. We must continue to work, and not look at the table.

"It’s very difficult to talk about the championship now. Many games must pass before you can see whether you can fight for the title.

“When you start the second part of the season our ideas will be clearer. To stay close to first place is good, and gives us great confidence.”

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 31/10/2016 04:46:41

| | Puel insists Southampton ‘can do better’ after loss to Chelsea - TEAMtalk | Latest Football News & Transfer RumoursTEAMTALK |

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Southampton boss Claude Puel admits Chelsea goals were ‘difficult to accept’

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On the night before Halloween, the Saints failed to give their visitors even a scare.

Claude Puel admitted his side were killed by Eden Hazard’s early skill and were buried by Diego Costa’s second-half screamer.

Nobody on the home side came out with much credit. Fraser Forster, the England No.2, allowed Hazard’s low shot through his legs, Oriel Romeu lost out to Nemanja Matic in the battle for midfield supremacy and Nathan Redmond was continually forced to drop deep to find any possession.

Dusan Tadic’s best contributions came in the opening minutes before he disappeared. It was by no means a horror show but still a let-down after holding Manchester City and then reaching the EFL Cup quarter-finals.

“It’s difficult to accept the goals,” said Puel. “The first changed the profile of the game. it’s difficult to play against them when you concede a goal after a few minutes.

“They can play their game with a strong defence and counter-attack. After the second goal, of course it was difficult to come back. We left spaces.

“We tried to find solutions in attack. It’s a disappointment because we tried to play good football. We could have done better than we did today.”

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte bans title talk until after Christmas despite Blues’ fourth straight win

Puel gave Hazard his professional debut at Lille aged 16 in 2007 and the Belgian repaid him by showing his old form on Sunday.

“I spoke with him after the game,” said the Frenchman. “He came back after last season’s difficulties, and has come back at a very good level.”

After their 12-match unbeaten home run came to an end, Southampton will aim to get back on the horse against Inter Milan on Thursday.

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Antonio Conte has the snarl of Jose Mourinho but also can smile, says Jamie Redknapp

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Antonio Conte has the snarl of Jose Mourinho but also can smile, says Jamie Redknapp

Antonio Conte has the perfect mix of “snarl and smile” and has found a better balance at Chelsea than Jose Mourinho, according to Jamie Redknapp.

Chelsea made it four Premier League wins in a row and moved to within one point of top spot with a 2-0 win over Southampton at St Mary’s on Super Sunday.

The victory moves Conte’s men into fourth place on 22 points, just one point off Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool, who are all level on 23.

The Italian was a bundle of energy on the touchline throughout the game, ordering his team around the pitch and Redknapp believes his personality is getting the best out of his players, who performed so miserably under Mourinho at the start of last season.

“Last season there was too much snarl with Jose Mourinho - all of the time,” Redknapp said. “But with Antonio Conte you get the snarl and the smile. It’s a nice balance. You wouldn’t want to cross him as he’s an angry man when he wants to be, but when you’re playing well he’s your best mate.”

Eden Hazard netted for the third league game in succession on six minutes, which put Chelsea in full control, before Diego Costa curled home a sumptuous second to end Southampton’s eight-month unbeaten run at home.

Since being dispatched 3-0 by Arsenal and switching to a back three of Gary Cahill, David Luiz and Cesar Azpilicueta, Chelsea have taken maximum points and kept four consecutive clean sheets.

“When you change a system and get results like they are now, especially when they’re not conceding goals, the players will buy into everything the manager is doing,” Redknapp said.

“The challenge will come when they go a goal behind and when they have to chase a game. At the moment when they go 1-0 up they are so difficult to beat. It’s like playing against a brick wall - it’s so difficult to break down.”

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Sourced from ESPN FC article

Southampton’s Claude Puel: Conceding early vs. Chelsea cost us

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Southampton manager Claude Puel expressed his regret at the way his team conceded so early in their 2-0 defeat to Chelsea.

Eden Hazard netted the first goal at St Mary’s and set up Diego Costa for the second as the Blues moved up to fourth in the Premier League table with the victory.

Hazard opened the scoring inside six minutes after jinking inside Steven Davis and slotting through the legs of Fraser Forster, and Puel admits his side should have done better.

“It’s difficult to accept the goals,” he told reporters. "We started the game very well, good pressing, good recovery, good quality from the players. To take a goal from the first action of [Chelsea], this first goal changed the profile of the game.

"They are strong, they are good on the counterattack and can take spaces, with players like Diego Costa who is difficult to resist. But I was happy with the first half because we tried to play football with good possibilities. We just lacked some quality to finish our action. After the second goal it was difficult to come back.

“Manchester City [last week] tried to do good pressing, high up the pitch, with possession and to find solutions. Chelsea is another game. They like to stay behind with a strong block in defence. They try and play counterattack.”

Southampton, to their credit, did not stop probing for a way back into the game and almost found it when Davis’ header dropped onto the top of the crossbar before Charlie Austin had a goal chalked off for offside.

“We tried to find solutions, but they stayed tight,” Puel said. “To score the goal comforted Chelsea and allowed them to play their game. I would have liked another scenario, because we could have done better than we did today.”

Liam is ESPN FC’s Chelsea correspondent. Follow him @Liam_Twomey or on Facebook.

Information from the Press Association was used in this report.

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 31/10/2016 07:48:07

| | Conte hails wing-back duoFOURFOURTWO |
| | Everything you need to know about Southampton v Chelsea in case you missed the actionIRISHEXAMINER |
| | Five things we learned from Southampton v ChelseaFOOTBALLFANCAST |

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Conte warns Chelsea players not to look at Premier League table

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Antonio Conte has warned his players not to look at the Premier League table until after Christmas as his Chelsea side moved within a point of the leaders with victory against Southampton.

Chelsea became the first side to win at St Mary’s this season, setting down yet another marker following their 4-0 thrashing of Manchester United the previous weekend.

They have now gone 410 minutes without conceding a goal in the league as Conte’s players settle into their unconventional three-man defence formation, while Diego Costa and Eden Hazard, who both scored, are returning to the lethal form which saw them lift the title two seasons ago.

‘At this moment, it’s not important for us to look at the table,’ Conte said. ‘We are in a good position, but it’s not important. It’s more important to work very hard and trust the work will improve us. Game by game, I’m seeing a lot of possibilities. I have confidence because we can improve a lot.

‘The only way that we must know now is to continue to work. Not look at the table. If you ask me a prediction or an expectation of our championship, now it’s very difficult to talk about this.

'It’s important to pass many games, particularly in the first part of this season. And then you can see if you can stay up there in the title race. Then, when you start the second part, our ideas will be clearer.

'We are working a lot. I’m seeing a lot of positive things in the team. We are not looking at the table, but continuing just to work.’

Chelsea have twice as many points — 22 — after 10 games than at the same stage last season, shortly before former manager Jose Mourinho was sacked. The win put them in fourth place, two points ahead of rivals Tottenham and one behind Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool above them.

Conte is delighted unity is returning to his players after they finished 10th last season. ‘You can see last season was bad, but not only for one player but many players,’ the Italian said.

‘If you arrive 10th in the table, it means the season wasn’t good for all the team. You win, you lose together, never as only one player. I want to see my players always working together and enjoying playing football together.

'This wasn’t an easy game for us, and to stay that close in the title race, to first place, is good. It gives us great confidence.’

Southampton manager Claude Puel was frustrated his team conceded so early in the game.

‘Chelsea like to stay behind with a strong block in defence,’ he said. ‘They try and play counter-attack. We tried to find solutions, but they stayed tight. I would have liked another scenario, because we could have done better.’

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Highlights: Saints beaten by Chelsea

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90 in 90: Saints 0-2 Chelsea

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Sergio Aguero is back to his deadly best for Manchester City

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Sergio Aguero is a penalty box operator. He does the most damage when he gets into the area and scores goals.

When he is having lean spell in front of goal, I’ve noticed he starts to come deeper and tries to get involved in the build-up play like Lionel Messi.

If I was an opposition manager, that’s exactly where I’d want him. I’d much rather he was floating around outside the box as a No 10 than making runs in behind.

As our heat maps show, Aguero spent a large proportion of the Southampton game near the centre circle.

The Argentine was largely ineffective and Manchester City drew 1-1.

Against West Brom he was in and around the box for most of the game — and it was his devastating run into the area which allowed him to score the opener.

That strike then gave him the confidence to hit a stunning second in a 4-0 win!

You have only got to look at how much ground Chelsea’s players covered on Sunday to see how they are buying into Antonio Conte’s philosophy.

They ran 3.5 miles further than Southampton while four players — Marcos Alonso, Nemanja Matic, N’Golo Kante and Eden Hazard — ran more than any member of Claude Puel’s team.

Conte has instilled so much hunger in this side — the likes of Hazard and Diego Costa look fitter and sharper than last season.

Neither Manchester United nor Southampton could knock Chelsea off their stride and it will take a team who are prepared to get on the front foot against them to do so.

I’m sure Mauricio Pochettino is more than happy with Tottenham’s unbeaten start to the season but you feel they are one player short.

Saturday’s draw with Leicester was their 18th since the start of last season — more than any other team in the Premier League — and Harry Kane would have turned those draws into wins.

Vincent Janssen is still finding his feet and doesn’t have the killer instinct that Kane possesses in the penalty area.

You get far fewer opportunities in England than in Holland and Janssen needs to improve his sharpness in and around the box.

It can take time for strikers from the Dutch league to adapt to the Premier League - even the great Dennis Bergkamp took seven games to get his first Arsenal goal.

Janssen needs to be given time.

More like it, Boro!

I was very critical of Middlesbrough after their 1-0 defeat by Watford. Their negative tactics were killing them and I thought they looked like certainties to go down.

Aitor Karanka has finally got them playing more positively and his side have picked up two great results against Arsenal and Bournemouth.

And what about Gaston Ramirez’s wondergoal? Picking the ball up in his own half, he embarked on a lung-busting run into the box, shifted on to his right foot to beat two defenders before the coolest of finishes.

Heaton stop is my save of the decade

Tom Heaton’s superb stop to deny Zlatan Ibrahimovic was my save of the season — if not the decade.

Heaton reminded me of Peter Schmeichel the way he spread his body to block Ibrahimovic’s scissor kick.

It capped another superb display from the goalkeeper, who made 11 saves to earn Burnley a clean sheet and a point at Old Trafford.

This is Heaton’s third appearance in my team of the week so far — more than any other keeper — and I’m sure it won’t be his last.

The draw capped another miserable week for Jose Mourinho but it was a rare piece of good news for Sunderland boss David Moyes. Mourinho has 15 points from his first 10 United games — two fewer than Moyes managed at the same stage of his only season in charge.

If you’re a striker, coming off the bench with your team drawing or narrowly losing is the perfect scenario. You can make sure all the headlines are about you by coming on to change the game.

Olivier Giroud thrives in these situations and scored two goals with his first two touches after coming on at Sunderland.

The Frenchman has struggled to live up to the likes of Ian Wright, Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp. It’s as if he is haunted by the ghosts of Arsenal past.

He needs to forget the comparisons and focus on the positives. Giroud is such a presence in the box and gives Arsene Wenger a perfect Plan B.

I could not believe Crystal Palace conceded from two corners against Liverpool.

Palace’s centre backs Scott Dann and James Tomkins are 6ft 5in and 6ft 3in but both Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip found the net at set pieces at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

You simply cannot afford to give away free headers to a team like Liverpool, who are absolutely flying at the moment.

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