But they are also more fragile, more flawed, more prone to error, more susceptible to pressure. They might melt in the heat of a title race, even a heavily handicapped one. Chelsea is cut from different cloth.

Given that Conte’s team has now led the Premier League for 20 games — it went to the top of the standings on Dec. 11, and has not offered so much as a sliver of light since — and has looked unassailable for months, it is curious that so much praise it has received has, on the surface, been so qualified.

“The main thing you notice about Chelsea this season is that they are very fit,” said Slaven Bilic, the West Ham United manager. “They work hard, they are very solid, and on top of that, they have that quality up front which is basically making the difference in every game. If you compare them with the other title contenders, Chelsea is more solid than Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.”

It was not exactly a paean to greatness, and it was far from unique. Manchester United Manager José Mourinho’s suggestion that Chelsea is just an “amazing defensive team” can probably be discounted as partisan politics; Manchester City Manager Pep Guardiola’s assertion that it is only efficiency in “both boxes” that has separated Chelsea from its rivals should be treated with similar caution.

But there are others — far less self-interested observers — who have made the same point. Claude Puel of Southampton described Chelsea as playing with a “strong defense and counterattack.” Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe talks about Chelsea “doing very well, with the system they play.” Burnley’s Sean Dyche centered on the fitness of Conte’s players, too.

Everton’s Ronald Koeman, in defeat here Sunday, suggested Chelsea did not need to play “to a high football level to know they will win a game.”

“It is a difficult system to play against,” he added. “They are really experienced, they know how to wait, and then they are really clinical. They do not need many chances.”