Antonio Conte has admitted that Chelsea were always going to find it tough to repeat the "miracle" of last season when winning the Premier League title.
The Blues finished top of the pile in the Italian's first campaign at Stamford Bridge, 43 points better off than in 2015-16 when a dismal season saw them end in 10th place.
Chelsea have made a mixed start to their title defence, however, winning six and losing three of their first 10 games to see the pressure slowly grow on the man in charge.
Former Italy and Juventus boss Conte believes that he deserves patience from the club board due to last season's success, which came against all the odds.
"I have to stay with my fingers crossed," he told reporters. "Honestly, I think I earned my time here with the win of last season. I don't like to ask for time, I like to tell the truth. The situation is very clear - my task is to work and to put all myself for this club.
"Then, if it's enough? OK. If it's not enough? OK. The same. I will continue to live. If we think I click my fingers and we are ready to fight, it's not simple. Last season happened. A miracle. It was a miracle, because we had the same players that the season before finished 10th."
Chelsea are back in action on Sunday afternoon with a big showdown against Manchester United, aiming to make up the four-point gap on their rivals.
Daniel Lewis
