Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois has admitted that the players are to blame for their disaster season last year which saw Jose Mourinho sacked, but now suggests that new boss Antonio Conte is eyeing a debut campaign title win.
Four defeats from their opening eight Premier League matches wasn't exactly the start of champions from Chelsea last season, and their results didn't improve heading into the new year, which saw Mourinho dismissed despite clinching the title with ease the season.
As a consequence,the players were forced to play for pride, something which Courtois still feels the players are at fault for.
Speaking to theDaily Mail, the Belgium international said: "It's not always the managers; sometimes it's also the players who we have to blame. I don't think we as a team last year were on the same level as the year we were champions.
"It is not only about the manager. But obviously the club has to make a decision at one point and they decided to let him go. We decided to play and finish the season as well as we could but we were 10th. That's obviously very bad for Chelsea."
METRO Chelsea star Thibaut Courtois reveals how Antonio Conte immediately won him over
Thibaut Courtois has retu¦ https://t.co/GG7iLGh2PB
Speaking of his new boss Conte, who has started his reign at Chelsea well despite defeats to both Arsenal and Liverpool, Courtois suggests that his desire and passion convinced him to stay at the club andis inspiring the team, and insists that his aim is to win trophies and win as many games as possible.
"When he arrived he said that he's a winner and he wants to win," continued the 24-year-old.
"He came to Chelsea to win trophies. Obviously as a player you feel that you are more eager to be here. You want even to fight more because you have a coach with that spirit."