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We are starting to see clubs put a camera in the tunnel for the duration of Premier League games and we love the footage. The Leicester v Chelsea 2017 tunnel cam actually had some insightful moments.

Normally we just see how most of the players in the Premier League seem to know each other and due to international and former club allegiances normally have a few friends on the opposition.

Here are three telling moments we found.

Ranieri & Conte Embrace

It was clear from seeing the two of them an hour before kick off that they have a deep respect for each other.

They met with a warm embrace and spent a few minutes chatting to each other and seemed genuinely happy to see each other and share each others companies.

This was no choreographed photo opportunity, we doubt that all managers share the level of respect they have after decades of doing battle on the sidelines.

Ranieri Gives Kante Grief

Seeing your former manager may be awkward as you go down the line to shake hands with the opposition coaching staff. However Ranieri soon got rid of that, playfully putting his former player in a headlock. It was a great piece of humour and shows the respect that Ranieri must still have for the player and his talents.

Marcus Alonso Drug Tested

At the end of every Premier League game, players from both sides are drug tested as standard practice. This game it was the turn of Marcus Alonso and after his performance it is no wonder why.

Don’t worry though this is routine, there is no suspicion that his performance was due to nothing but talent and hard work.

He turned the game with his outstanding performance and two goals. At a time when the league were looking for a wobble he helped the Blues answer their critics.

Losing to Spurs is a rare occurrence and do to so last night was painful as we saw the Chelsea record run come to an end.

We played well against Spurs and the game was evenly matched however the North London club took their chances and we didn’t.

There were no controversial moments, no dodgy decisions the game was decided by football and Spurs came out on top.

A quick moment to appreciate the difference last night which was Dele Alli, he is having a great run and unfortunately he continued that with a solid performance and two outstanding headers.

He is a talent that is going to burn brightly in the Premier League and whilst annoying that he plays for Spurs, it is good to see young English talent making a mark.

The Spurs fans I know have been giving us a hard time this morning and crowing over their victory.  They deserve to do so, let’s just hope that London is Blue when we get to the business end of the season.

Spurs away, c'mon Chelsea!! 👊 #CFCaway pic.twitter.com/RcD4mgsvJQ

— James Armit (@James_Armit) January 4, 2017

Chelsea Record Run Reality Check

Last night was sobering but when reality bites we can reflect on an incredible run that included victory over Spurs in November.

The record-equalling run was ended but Chelsea are still 5 points clear at the Premier League. Antonio Conte has built a platform for Chelsea to exceed expectations and build a team over the next 18 months.

We already have strong foundations and more time under the new manager is bound to see further improvement.

What Next

Momentum is important in football, but our next Premier League game is 10 days away as the FA Cup takes over.

Rotate the squad and beat Peterborough and the winning mindset can easily be maintained. Challenges are never far away in the Premier League but we have proven we have the skills to overcome them.

So if any Spurs fans are reading this, please enjoy the moment you beat us fair and square. Remember though that only what happens in May counts and hopefully, the table will look the same as it does now.

We are now in January which means that we are now in transfer silly season with the tabloids and online transfer rumour sites going into overdrive.

The latest example of this was Chelsea being linked to Arturo Vidal simply because he liked an Instagram post featuring his former manager. The fact that his former manager is Antonio Conte does not mean that he is destined to become a Blue.

Admittedly one outrageous Chelsea transfer has been confirmed as Oscar heads to China for all the money (and maybe some of the tea). This windfall for a player who was not even getting into the Chelsea team has raised the prospect of a transfer war-chest this January.

Conte and the Chelsea board should leave things until the Summer and not look to buy or sell anyone in the core of the first team.

The Team Is Settled

Chelsea have used the fewest number of players in the Premier League so far this season highlighting how balanced our starting line up is now that we have moved to a 4-3-3 formation.

Bringing in new players could upset the harmony in the dressing room and the balance of the side. Whilst Michy Batshuayi could go out on loan, I would want an existing member of the Chelsea squad to be recalled from loan to replace him.

The Team Is Winning

We are currently top of the table having equalled the record for most consecutive victories in Premier League history. It would be foolish to risk this by buying or selling any of the players that have put the Blues in that position.

Transfer Fees Are Crazy In January

Nobody likes selling players in January so they are rarely priced at their true value. Chelsea have been burnt by this in the past, most notably when buying Fernando Torres.  it makes no sense to

Instead we should try and sit January out and let others make transfer mistakes as they look to play catch up.

The Chelsea failure to qualify Champions League football would be a good thing, but so far there have been plenty of positives to not playing in the elite European competition.

Being out of the Champions League is like a bonus code for videoslots.com been a blessing in disguise and we look like the champions we were in the 2014/2015 season once again.

Liverpool showed the value of playing fewer games than your rivals in 2013/2014 when the Scousers were only a Steven Gerrard slip and Demba Ba finish away from winning their first Premier League title.

It is too early to dream of the title too much, but it certainly looks like we are going to be in the hunt.

Benefit of Chelsea Failure To Qualify Champions League

Playing just once a week has given the players longer to rest and left our team sharp, this is having a huge impact on the results on the pitch. We are not having to get key players like Costa and Hazard through two games per week meaning they are fresh and producing results on the pitch.

We are not having to get key players like Costa and Hazard through two games per week meaning they are fresh and producing results on the pitch.

From a personal perspective, it has made this season more affordable, less games means less cost. Although I would gladly pay to see the Blues than sit at home whilst our rivals play for the trophy with the big ears.

Chelsea failure to qualify Champions League Painful

Watching the other teams in the Champions League has been painful, even if we have enjoyed watching Spurs crash and burn. It has been great to see Leicester prove doubters wrong (again) and progress to the next round. Manchester City and Arsenal have taken care of business.

These two minor bright points do not mask the fact that it is painful to see other British teams in the Champions League without Chelsea. It may be a false sense of entitlement but it is where I think/hope we belong.

The novelty of having a full week to play has been tolerable for one season, but the thought of being cast aside for more is unbearable. It is unlikely that key players like Diego Costa and Eden Hazard will even entertain the prospect

Thankfully the early indications are that Antonio Conte has us in a great position to finish comfortably within the top four.

Life is pretty good as a Chelsea fan at the moment as the Conte effect takes hold. Our traditional rivals have been stumbling and we top the table, something that seemed like a distant pipedream only a couple of months ago.

Since Antonio Conte switched to 3-4-3, Chelsea have seen vast improvements on the pitch, according to research carried out by SmartBets, the customisable odds comparison site powered by bettingexpert.com

This data may go back to the 18th of November but the victories over Tottenham and Manchester City have been anchored in the change in system by Antonio Conte and the passion of the team to carry it through.

The games against Spurs and Man City also saw the Blues show the character and desire to win that they have. Chelsea went a goal down in each of these games but powered back to take the game away from their rivals.

The Conte Effect

These stats show what we have seen on the pitch in stat form, we are stronger going forward and tighter defensively. Combine the two and you get a team that is hard to beat

Chelsea are down to an average of 52.6% in the possession statistics, but this shows that Conte’s side are doing more with the ball when they have it. Pass succession is up to 83.2% from 81% and their unpredictability is proving hard to handle.

The inclusion on wing-backs Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso allows Eden Hazard more freedom and Chelsea have completed an average of 15.1 dribbles per game using the new formation, which is the second highest in the Premier League.

An average of 66.2 direct balls per game is already higher than the 62.5 accumulated during the start of the season and the Blues are topping the table in most goals from open play.

Conte has brought defensive solidity to Stamford Bridge with his side conceding just 8.4 shots per game, compared to last season’s 12.7.  They’re also averaging 21.8 tackles and 17.2 important interceptions since reverting to 3-4-3 – which is considerably higher than last season and the first six matches.

Long live the Conte effect