Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has revealed that Victor Wanyama is the Tottenham player he most admires ahead of Wednesday's clash at White Hart Lane.
Conte is on the verge of his 14th consecutive Premier League win, which would match Arsenal's record set in 2002, but believes that Tottenham could be his toughest test yet.
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Mauricio Pochettino has the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen available and in form ahead of the London derby but Conte believes Wanyama is his oppenent's most effective player.
"This team is a young team," Conte said at a news conference at Cobham Training Centre. "They are growing, every year that passes at this club and to conitnue to work with the same manager means that they are improving a lot.
"There is a player who is very important for them now, Wanyama. He is a really good player. He has quality during the game, stamina, work rate and shows great commitment for the team. I like these things about him.
"There is a lot of players who are improving a lot, they are young and improving."
Conte has never played at White Hart Lane as a player but did visit Tottenham in February 2015 to scout Fiorentina's Italian players while he was manager of his country.
Pochettino and Conte have since become good friends, and the former Juventus boss is full of admiration for his rivals - as well as their manager.
"I think Tottenham were unlucky last season, in some games. I think Tottenham is better and stronger, when you compare them to the Tottenham of last season, also they have another year under Pochettino.
"I think there position in the table is only different because we did an incredible run, winning 13 in a row. I consider them a great team. Pochettino is showing that he is one of the best coaches in the world.
"I repeat, he is doing fantastic work with Tottenham. Tottenham is one team that can fight to win the title in the present and the future. He is doing fantastic work and they are a really strong team.
"I saw the training ground, I spoke with him and we both talked about football and our ideas of football. I found a lot of similarities, yes. We like to play from the back and in possession to find the right solution to go towards the goal, to finish quickly in front of goal."
