"?Chelsea's title rivals had been licking their lips in anticipation of a possible banana skin in the title race - largely owing to Diego Costa's absence - but the Blues left them summarily disappointed with a straightforward 3-0 win over champions Leicester.
Marcos Alonso collected a surprising double in the early stages of each half, and Pedro rounded it off in a match in which Thibaut Courtois barely had a save to make.
Full-time: Leicester City 0-3 Chelsea! ??? pic.twitter.com/0CwqI42SuV
"I am pleased for the players", Conte said for what seemed the millionth time in a post-match interview, to "?BBC Sport. "Good result, good spirit of the team. To play against Leicester is not easy. It is important now to rest for two days and to start to prepare for the game against Hull City."
Marcos Alonso's double was unexpected, but clinical. A hat trick for the wing-back would have been only the second triple scored by a 'defender' in Premier League history.
"I am very pleased for Marcos", Conte smiled. "He is very important. Today he played very well, but today we pushed a lot from the start until the end.
"To restart after our defeat against Tottenham was not easy, but we did this. When you arrive at a defeat after thirteen wins in a row, it is very difficult to know the answer.
Despite the argument, there is no chance of Diego Costa leaving #Chelsea in the January transfer window. [Sky Italia]
Talk turned to Diego Costa, who was absent from the matchday squad with a back injury. Many speculate that a bid from the Chinese League has turned the striker's head.
"He stopped his training on Tuesday because of a pain in his back. You can listen to a lot of things. If there are problems, I solve them in the changing room. I don't know anything about [a Chinese bid]. Not just me, the club."
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