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Gary Cahill says that there has been no significant change to Antonio Conte's demeanour in training despite his increasing frustration at Chelsea's difficulties in the transfer market this summer. The Premier League champions have so far made four signings -- Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Antonio Rudiger and Willy Caballero -- but go into the new season with a squad short on numbers following a number of exits on permanent and loan deals. Conte pointedly claimed prior to Sunday's FA Community Shield defeat against Arsenal that he expects this to be the "most difficult season" of his managerial career, but Cahill says his head coach's exasperation at transfer setbacks has not manifested itself at Cobham. "For us, he has been the same on the training field," Cahill told talkSPORT. "One word I would describe him as is 'intense.' He thinks so hard and so much about the game and the way we train is very, very intense. He doesn't switch off from it, which is the way he obviously manages, and it is fantastic for us. "He thinks all the time how he can change things tactically and if he can do anything better. I'm sure he will be thinking even harder this season because of last year. People will be trying to work out how they are going to play against us. In terms of his personality, he has been the same with the boys. "Obviously there have been a few incidents away from the training ground but it is hard for us as players to comment on stuff like the transfer market and the way things have gone. It has got nothing to do with us." One incident that has overshadowed Chelsea's troubled summer was Conte's decision to inform striker Diego Costa by text message that he was no longer wanted at Stamford Bridge. Costa remains in Brazil while reports of a move back to Atletico Madrid continue and although Morata was quickly signed for a club-record initial fee of £58 million to replace him, Cahill says the former Real Madrid man has big boots to fill. "As a player, he will be missed," Cahill said of Costa. "Diego Costa is Diego Costa. He scores goals. He is an animated character and he is a big personality. "He will be a big miss. We have obviously added to the squad with Alvaro [Morata] and that is a great addition to the squad, but you are always to going miss big players." Asked if he expects Chelsea to make further signings in the final weeks of the transfer window, Cahill replied: "Possibly. You would have thought so. There is no getting away from the fact if you look at the back of the programme at the weekend [the squad is small]. "We have certainly got the quality -- you have seen that last season -- but we have to keep players fit because at the minute our squad isn't as big as some of the other squads."
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