Chelsea possess top quality players who can reach the level of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Pogba, new manager Antonio Conte said.
The Italian took over at Stamford Bridge after a very positive campaign at the Euro 2016 Championship.
His first game in charge ended in defeat against Rapid Vienna but he insists that his players can improve and reach a very important level during this season.
"I think Chelsea have players who can become top, top, top players," Conte is quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
"I think that these players can still improve a lot with work.
"We have players, fantastic players, who have great talent but in this moment the world doesn't think they are the same level as Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo or Paul Pogba.
"But I think that in our squad there are players who, with work, can improve a lot and reach this level. I'm sure about this. It's important the players understand this.
"There is the ability to work, to prove and to show that, now I am a top player, but I want to become top, top, top player and I want to stay there.
"This is important. The mentality is important. The heart is important, patience and the will to improve is very important and in this case it's important for the manager to take the best players and try to improve them."
