Conte admits Matic to ManUtd a great loss

Antonio Conte, conceded that Nemanja Matic's move to Manchester United is a "great loss" for Chelsea and reiterated that more signings are required for the Blues to have any hope of defending their Premier League title this season.

Matic completed a £40 million transfer to Old Trafford at the end of last month, having been excused from Chelsea's preseason tour of the Far East when it became clear that he wanted to leave the Premier League champions in search of regular first-team football elsewhere.

"Matic knows very well what I think about him -- the importance for me about this player, who is a really good player, a top player, very important for our team," he said.

"But sometimes you must accept this crazy transfer market, and sometimes you must accept different decisions. But he is a great loss for us."

Chelsea have made four signings -- Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Antonio Rudiger and Willy Caballero -- this summer, while allowing Matic, Nathan Ake, Asmir Begovic, Nathaniel Chalobah, John Terry, Kurt Zouma and Ruben Loftus-Cheek to leave either permanently or on loan.

Asked if Chelsea need more signings in order to successfully defend their Premier League title, Conte replied: "Yes, for sure."

UCJ, UNILORIN.