There seems to be one man presently watching Chelsea who isn't entirely happy with their style of play – his name is Antonio Conte, and he is a perfectionist.

With Chelsea's style being lauded by most observers, and manager and player of the month gongs for Conte and Eden Hazard to match, plus a growing stretch of consecutive wins, what could possibly be improved?

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Granted Chelsea were not quite their flowing, invigorating selves in the first half against Tottenham; but they won 'a different way' according to Conte: using character to turn the game just when it was needed, allowing a far better second period to follow.

Chelsea surge and pulsate on the pitch; zipping the ball quickly from one end of the field to the other.

But Conte wants more – and here is the difference he wants to see.

Chelsea must be able to play out from the back and that is something their manager is adamant they cannot yet do.

The aspiration explains the acquisition of David Luiz as a ball-playing, yet nippy centre-half is a requirement for this sort of game.

Chelsea's David Luiz and Gary Cahill in action Image credit: Reuters

But Conte's shades of frustration possibly lie further back than that - with Thibaut Courtois' distribution gleaning little positive advantage for the team so far this season.

His predecessor Petr Cech, though a truly great keeper, was himself not known for that part of his game - it being an attribute Chelsea have largely overlooked the need for in recent years.

There is a bit of a fad for teams to seek out keepers good with their feet, though, as we saw with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, who unceremoniously ditched England number one Joe Hart, in favour of Claudio Bravo.

That same message about building from the back came from Guardiola - he wants a team of 11 who can both defend and attack.

It is no mere hipster flavour of the month, mind, and there are sound reasons why a manager would wish to have that ability in his team.

In a game where tiny percentage advantages can make the difference between first and tenth (remember last season?), it makes sense to have 100% of your players able to start an attack, rather than just 91% of them.

Conte is not expecting Courtois to start scoring goals, obviously, but he is wanting him to play more of a key role in the all-important transition from defence to attack – the key thing that makes his teams so deadly.

Chelsea's Italian head coach Antonio Conte (L) celebrates with Chelsea's Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Chelsea at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, southern England Image credit: AFP

So is Courtois the wrong keeper at the wrong club?

The issue probably isn't that severe, given Conte has stuck with him throughout the season; and back-up Asmir Begovic arguably looks further away from a serious first team opportunity than he was last season.

And the notable change in goalkeeper coaching personnel – from the previously untouchable Christophe Lollichon to Conte's man Gianluca Spinelli – shows just how that new focus will be developed.

We are not privy to what goes on inside Cobham for much of the week, but it is notable in pre-match (and increasingly for Courtois, half time) warm ups that balls are played by the coach to his feet.

And, while concentrating here on one aspect of Courtois' game that needs improving, the world class saves still come – plus he is not the only one at the back being set extra homework in starting the attack.

This is all interesting, because it shows Conte’s attention to detail, and his refusal to opt for an easy life.

Other coaches might see their team at the top of the league and playing the best football in England, and simply decide that is enough.

But, for the Italian, it seems nothing is ever truly enough.

The reasons behind Jose Mourinho's failure second time around, and what looks like a similar path he is taking at Manchester United, are a whole other discussion.

But there was a feeling after the 2015 title win that he rested on his laurels, and he certainly accused players of doing the same.

In Conte, Chelsea have a manager who never seems likely to do that. The main issue may be whether the players have the same thirst for perfection that he has.

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