Mauricio Pochettino and Antonio Conte will vie with two of their fellow top six rivals to be named the Premier League’s manager of the month for December.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho are also in the running for the prize but will do well to deny Chelsea manager Conte.
The Italian has scooped the prize for the last two months, with his Chelsea charges Eden Hazard and Diego Costa being named player of the month in October and November, and it would be a surprise if he were not to make it a hat-trick after Chelsea continued their winning run through December.
The Blues won each of their six games to equal the Premier League record of 13 consecutive wins in a single season, starting the month with a crucial 3-1 victory at Manchester City. That was followed by three straight 1-0 triumphs over West Brom, Sunderland and Crystal Palace before Bournemouth and Stoke were put to the sword in the festive period.
In Pictures | Southampton vs Tottenham | 28/12/2016
Pochettino would mastermind the end of Conte’s winning run with Spurs in January but his December was also impressive, his side running in 14 goals in five games. Their only blemish came at Old Trafford, where they lost 1-0 to Manchester United, but impressive wins over Swansea and Southampton ensured the festive period was one of merriment at White Hart Lane.
