LONDON -- Antonio Conte believes that he is under more pressure to win the Premier League title this season than Mauricio Pochettino because Chelsea have greater expectations of success than Tottenham.
Spurs took full advantage of Chelsea's shock 2-1 home defeat against Crystal Palace on Saturday by beating Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor to narrow the Blues' lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points with nine matches remaining, and Pochettino insists his team can still end the season as champions.
Conte says Chelsea have surprised many by surging clear at the top of the table, but claims that finishing first would be "normal" by the standards his club have set in the Roman Abramovich era, while a runners-up place would still be regarded as a positive step at White Hart Lane.
"I think the difference between Chelsea and Tottenham is this: If you are at Chelsea and win it's normal," Conte explained. "If are at Tottenham, if you win it's great, great, but if you lose ... it's not a disaster, no? Not a disaster. Because you can find a lot of situations to explain a good season.
"But in this season, us and Tottenham stay at the same level. Chelsea were underdogs [for the title] at the start of the season, but now we are top and we want to keep this position."
Asked if he feels the Premier League title race has become a two-team battle between Chelsea and Tottenham, Conte added: "I think you have to put also Manchester City in this [race]. It's important to see the result [at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday].
"But this [race] must give you enjoyment. It must make you proud, also because nobody thought Chelsea, in this season, would fight for the title."
Chelsea face City at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday having kept just two clean sheets in their last 11 Premier League matches, and Conte could again be without Victor Moses, who continues to battle the injury that ruled him out of Nigeria duty and the Palace loss.
Pedro Rodriguez replaced Moses at wing-back in that game and was given a difficult time by Wilfried Zaha, but Conte -- who re-watched the match on Saturday night while having dinner with his wife, daughter and brother -- insists he has no specific concerns about sticking with the Spain international against City's dangerous attackers.
"Pedro, I think, is playing very well and having a fantastic season," Conte added. "I hope he continues in this way. He has shown me great attitude and commitment if he plays as a striker, or as a wing-back. On Saturday he played a really good game."
Diego Costa's profligate performance against Palace has been singled out by some Chelsea fans underwhelmed by his recent dip in form. The striker has scored four goals in 11 appearances since being the subject of a lucrative offer from Chinese Super League club Tianjin Quanjian in January, and has also been booked in each of his last three matches.
Conte, however, insists he has no issues with Costa's contribution.
"Diego is performing very well this season," he continued. "He's a great striker and our point of reference in offensive situations. I'm not concerned about this.
"I believe in him. He's a really great player. I repeat: You win and you lose as a team, not as a single player. We are a team in every situation. I'm sure Diego is in good form, great form, and is performing very well."
