Conte urges Chelsea players to carry aggression into new season

New Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has urged his players to retain the aggressiveness they have shown during the pre-season, saying that the combative nature of the game was essential to the style of play he is looking to impose at the club. Six players were booked, while midfielder Cesc Fabregas was shown a red card, in Chelsea's feisty 1-0 victory over Liverpool on Thursday after Gary Cahill's early header condemned the Merseyside club to their first pre-season defeat. Fabregas will now be suspended for Chelsea's friendly clash against Champions League winners Real Madrid today but Conte was not ready to criticise the Spaniard. "I like my teams to be aggressive and I like if my team play with great aggression and high intensity. We train to prepare for that because I want that my team has an identity," Conte said. "I always gave an identity to my teams. I am searching to transfer this to my players. "I am pleased because I see a great attitude. I want to continue in this way because this is the only way to come back very soon for the title."

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