Conte revels in proving Chelsea critics wrong

LONDON - Antonio Conte said he would be happy for Chelsea to creep up on the rails in the Premier League title race following its clinical 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

Chelsea was stunned 3-2 by Burnley in the opening game of its title defense, but weathered heavy pressure to ruin Tottenham's Wembley housewarming party on Sunday thanks to leftback Marcos Alonso's brace.

Chelsea also started last season unsteadily, losing two of its first six matches, only for a 13-game winning run to set it on the path to glory.