Chelsea may be champions, but Antonio Conte says they shouldn't be considered favourites for this season and even doubts their capacity to retain the league, ahead of the start of their title defence at home to Burnley on Saturday.

The Italian has been very public about his frustrations with transfer business that has left him with a depleted and short squad on the eve of the season, but his comments still mark a conspicuous downplaying of his side's chances for a defending champion, and likely a piece of expectation management akin to his predecessor Jose Mourinho - not to mention a reminder to the Chelsea board of the need to make more signings.

Conte had earlier said Chelsea winning last season's was "a surprise", and seemed to intimate that it would be the same this year.

Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings Show all 23 1 /23 Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings Arsenal vs Chelsea player ratings Who impressed and who faltered at Wembley? Getty Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings Petr Cech - 7 out of 10 His usual assured self at the back. Was quick off his line in the first half to clear a Chelsea through ball on the edge of the box. Let down by his Arsenal defence for Chelsea's goal but a hero in the shootout. Getty Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings Rob Holding - 6 An assured first half performance but failed to properly read the situation for Moses' goal. Should have done better. Getty Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings Per Mertesacker - N/A His game was cut short after taking a blow to the head that forced him into an early substitution. Getty Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings Nacho Monreal - 6 Adjusted well to loss of Mertesacker at the back. Held his position and coped under pressure. Nothing remarkable, though. Getty Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings Hector Bellerin - 6 Enjoyed more influence down the flank than his counterpart on the other wing. Got forward into the right positions and produced a number of challenging deliveries. Getty Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings Mohamed Elneny - 6 Chanced his luck with a few wild shots on goal that failed to come to fruition. Worked hard in the middle. Solid performance all round. Getty Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings Granit Xhaka - 7 It was his failed clearance which handed Chelsea their opener but he made up for it as the game advanced. He came close with a stinging shot from outside of the box and provided the delivery for Kolasinac's header. MOTM. Getty Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 5 Oxlade-Chamberlain continues to look out of place at left-back, despite Wenger's hopes that he'll be able to make a wing-back out of the player. As such, the Ox once again lacked confidence and that special spark that stopped him from having any real major say on the game - even when he was pushed on higher up the pitch after Mertesacker's injury. Getty Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings Alex Iwobi - 7 Enjoyed a notable surge forward at the end of the first half with an explosive burst of pace before showing some neat footwork to keep the attack alive after running into danger. Spirited and lively performance in all. Getty Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings Danny Welbeck - 7 Put in an industrious performance for Arsenal. Tireless in his harrying of Chelsea’s back line and willing to drop back deep for his team mates. Linked up well with Lacazette, too, which certainly bodes well for the coming season. Getty Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings Alexandre Lacazette - 6 An encouraging game for the Frenchman. Was certainly more effective in the first half, when he hit the post with a curled effort from the centre of the box. Could strike up a nice partnership with Welbeck. Getty Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings Thibaut Courtois – 5 Made some good saves although looked a little bit wobbly underneath the high ball. But why oh why did he step forward to take a penalty?! Getty Images, Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings Cesar Azpilicueta – 6 Struggled against the direct running of Iwobi. Not one of his better games, all in all. AFP/Getty Images Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings David Luiz – 7 An enigmatic performance from the Brazilian, who impressed with a couple of bits of outrageous skill. Getty Images Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings Gary Cahill – 7 Dominant in the air and played out well from the back when required. Getty Images Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings Victor Moses – 7 Opened the scoring with a well-taken goal at the start of the second-half. Getty Images for ICC Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings Cesc Fabregas – 7 Calm and composed in the middle of the park. His passing was impressive throughout. Bongarts/Getty Images Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings N’Golo Kante – 7 A typically tidy performance. His pass success rate did not dip below 90% all match and he made several good tackles. AFP/Getty Images Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings Marcos Alonso – 6 Not one of the Spaniard’s better games. But on the plus side he does have a superb new lid. Bongarts/Getty Images Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings Willian – 6 Not his best performance, and was booked half-way through the first-half for simulation. AFP/Getty Images Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings Pedro – 7 Chelsea’s brightest player in the first-half by a considerable distance and equally effective in the second. But was sent off late on for a dangerous tackle. Getty Images Arsenal vs Chelsea, Community Shield - player ratings Michy Batshuayi – 6 Had a couple of shots, one of which was well saved by Cech. He’s improving – but he’s no Diego Costa. AFP/Getty Images

"Honestly, if you have to give your evaluation on the card it’s right," he said. "It's right not to put Chelsea to be a favourite. If you have to give an evaluation only on card. It was the same last season. Not one person believed Chelsea would win the title. This season, in this moment, I agree with these people who think this.”

Pressed on why, Conte said he has already explained "two or three times", referring to discussions about the shortness of his squad. He added: "I don’t know, I think that you are better than me to evaluate before the season and to give the different position about the favourite or not favourite, and I think for me is to think to work, to work, to try to improve my players, to try to improve my team, the most important thing is to put 120% into my work, me and my staff and my players, and then we'll see what happens."

Conte did deny that the pressure was any greater this season, due to the expectation from winning the league.