ANTONIO CONTE reckons Manchester City can join him in the 100 club — and fears they will get better next season.
The Chelsea boss reached a ton of points during his time at Juventus four years ago.
And he sees hunger in Pep Guardiola’s squad to reach the magical mark, which they can do even if Conte masterminds victory against them today at the Etihad.
Conte said: “If they continue with this fire, with this hunger, for sure they can achieve this result.
“They are showing to be in a fantastic physical condition, they play good football and have great desire.
“After a good win against Arsenal, to win the Carabao Cup, to show this desire, to show this fire, to show this hunger, it means you have a group of players with great determination to achieve this type of result.
“It won’t be easy to reach this result of 100 points.
“But they have the possibility because they are showing to be the best in this league.”
Chelsea currently hold the record of 95 points in a Premier League season, which they managed during Jose Mourinho’s first spell at the club in 2004-05.
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City are on 75 with ten games still to play — meaning they need at least eight wins and a draw.
And Conte says he has had no chance of competing with them after Chelsea failed to spend big on strengthening his squad after winning the title last season.
The Italian does not expect City to make the same mistake once they are crowned champs — and fears they will be even stronger next term.
He added: “There is only one situation that’s very clear — that Manchester City will be stronger next season.
“They have a great coach and great players. Then there is the possibility to spend a lot of money and have the same ambition of the coach.
“This is the fantastic result for them. Manchester City is not the only club to spend a lot of money but it’s the way they are spending money.
“I think the club is making Pep happy during the transfer market by taking the best choices for the coach.”
Guardiola pipped Conte to Kyle Walker in the summer when the clubs went head-to-head to sign him from Tottenham, part of a £125million splurge on full-backs alone.
But Conte insists he is not envious of the former Barcelona coach despite the backing he has received in the transfer market — and being on the brink of the title.
Conte said: “I don’t like people to envy the other person.
“I don’t like the person that has this type of sentiment. I have great admiration because they found the right way to be strong for a long time, to have successful seasons for a long time, from now until . . . I don’t know.”
Chelsea are coming up to a crucial part of their season as they face Barcelona in the Champions League a week on Wednesday.
They are also battling to get back into the Premier League’s top four and avoid Thursday-night football in the Europa League next season.
Conte reminded his critics that Chelsea were playing NO European football when he arrived at the club.
And he claims having fewer games was only a small advantage in their Premier League success last year.
Conte said: “Do you think it could be enough, to win the title again?
“If you think this, I think you are a dreamer.
“I think we have to continue to put all ourselves in this effort. This will be an important effort from now until the end to try to find a place in the Champions League.
“When I arrived here the club didn’t play the Champions League or Europa League, if you remember two years ago. Life goes on.”
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One of Conte’s signings — Ross Barkley — has travelled with the squad to the Etihad.
But the Blues boss admits he must be patient over the midfielder’s return to action after being out for most of the season with a serious hamstring injury.
Conte said: “With Ross, as you know better than me, he had a really bad injury with Everton.
“He played with us against Arsenal in Carabao Cup after seven months out.
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“When you have this type of bad injury, you must have great patience to try to work.
“At the same time, when you are arriving from a bad injury after a long period you didn’t play, the risk to have little injuries is more than with another player.
“Ross is a young player, he’s a really good guy, he’s a good player. Now he has to try to recover and show that he deserves a place to play at the World Cup.”
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