Antonio Conte has admitted that Chelsea are exceeding even his own expectations this season but has also reminded the rest of the Premier League that his squad know how to finish the job.

Chelsea won the league on all four previous occasions that they led at Christmas, while nine of the past 12 leaders at this stage of the season – including Leicester City last year – have also gone on to be champions.

Conte inherited a squad who finished only 10th last season but yesterday he made a point both of flagging up his own experience of winning three Serie A titles at Juventus and also Chelsea’s vast previous success.

“Not one person thought or forecast that Chelsea would stay top of the table, for many reasons,” he said. “Because the squad was the same as last season’s. Because our market wasn’t a great market. I think we found the right balance. But now we are only two games away from halfway through the season. So, for this reason, we must have the right pressure. These players, in the past, have had the habit of staying top of the table.

“I don’t trust the people when they say, ‘There’s pressure when you’re top’. I prefer the pressure of being top of the table. We earned this position. Now it’s important to keep it. It’s not the first time for me or my players.”