Jose Mourinho could not do with the current crop of Chelsea players what Antonio Conte is managing, former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy believes.
After early season defeats against top four rivals Liverpool and Arsenal, Conte has Chelsea flying in the Premier League on the back of his switch to a 3-4-3 formation and the Blues have now won seven league games on the bounce.
The Blues ended Tottenham Hotspur's unbeaten start to the season at Stamford Bridge on Saturday by winning 2-1 and sit top of the league with 31 points from 13 games, one point more than Liverpool and Manchester City; Mourinho's Manchester United are sixth.
Mourinho flopped in charge of Chelsea last season, being sacked in December as a result and Cundy is convinced the Portuguese could not be as effective with the current crop at Stamford Bridge as Conte is being.
He also aimed a dig at the Manchester United boss by insisting that Conte is the new 'Special One'.
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"Jose has been and always will be a huge part of our history", Cundy said on Chelsea TV.
"He was magnificent the first time round – he won us back the title.
"Last year things were falling apart at the seams.
"We've got a new manager, it's a new approach", the former defender explained.
"Jose would not have been able to do this team what Conte has done.
"He has changed the formation, they are playing with a smile on their face. Mourinho would not have been able to do this.
"Forget Jose. We've got the new special one.
"Jose is the special once", Cundy added.
Next up for Chelsea is another acid test with a trip to Pep Guardiola's Manchester City on the agenda.
