From crisis to cruising and back again seems to be the way Premier League narratives tend to go.
After an underwhelming summer in the transfer window and an opening day loss to Burnley which saw two of their players sent off, the mood music around Chelsea and their manager Antonio Conte was sombre.
But more than a few rays have poked through after a 2-0 win over Everton followed a 2-1 victory at Tottenham.
Speaking to Off The Ball after yesterday's win over Everton, Conte feels there is no comparison to be made between last season's title triumph and this season's attempt to defend the Premier League crown, apart from the size of the squad.
"I think if you compare this season and last season, it's totally different. Totally different," he said.
"Because last season we played only three competitions and if you remember our squad was not so big, only 14 senior players and then a lot of young players.
"And now we are in the same situation. We have 15 senior players but we have one competition more. I think the club is trying and working very hard to strengthen our squad because I repeat, when you have to face four competitions, it's not easy. I need to rotate for these four competitions many players."
But he continued that he "doesn't know exactly the number" of extra players he wants brought in before the upcoming transfer deadline.
"But the club knows very well which is the situation," he added, emphasising that "we need to strengthen our squad".
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