Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte believes it is normal for suitors to try to unsettle players, as Real Madrid bid to prise Eden Hazard from the Premier League leaders.
Hazard was this week linked __with a £100million move to Real, whose head coach Zinedine Zidane is the Belgium playmaker’s idol.
Conte says it is flattering for his Chelsea players to have admirers, but insists Hazard is happy at Stamford Bridge.
“The only thing I can say is Eden is a Chelsea player, our player,” the Italian said.
“We are happy __with him. He is happy with us. I don’t see a problem.
“It’s normal, it’s logical in this part of the season, to start rumours about our player… to try to create difficulty in the mind of the players.
“We have great experience to face this situation. Also my players have this experience.
“If Chelsea players are requested by the other teams, it means they’re doing very well.
“I’m very happy. It means I’m doing a great job.”
Hazard is under contract until June 2020.
Chelsea captain John Terry, who has not made a Premier League start since September, is out of contract this summer.
Rumours have begun of defender Terry being offered another one-year contract extension.
Conte, who again repeated that contracts and transfers would be addressed at the end of the season and his players should focus on the present, said: “For every situation, there will be the right moment to face. The club is working very well to solve many situations.
“I like to talk about John for this season. He’s helping a lot. I repeat: he’s doing a great job.
“John knows my thoughts about him and I think the most important thing is this.”
Chelsea are 10 points clear entering this weekend’s fixtures and with 10 games remaining.
The Blues play Sam Allardyce’s Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and need 21 more points to seal the title.
Conte added: “I think we deserve to win, but there are 10 games to go. For sure our opponents don’t want to accept that Chelsea is champions.
“Football is full of surprises. In my experience as a footballer, I won a lot, but I think I lost more.
“For this reason, I want to keep our feet on the ground. It’s very important, this.”
Chelsea are also in the FA Cup semi-final, where they play Tottenham on April 22.
Conte added: “We want to build something important for the present and the future. I think we have just started (on) our path.”
Chelsea were this week linked with Alexis Sanchez, whose Arsenal contract has a year to run this summer.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, in response, said there was only “one team in London”.
Conte, who does not discuss transfer targets, said: “In London there are many teams. I like to listen to the other coaches but, for me, I prefer always to have great respect for all the players from all the clubs.”
Chelsea will hope to extend their club-record run of 13 successive home wins and Hazard could feature, after missing the win at Stoke prior to the international break and duty with Belgium.
Conte, though, could opt to preserve him for next Wednesday’s duel with Manchester City.
Asked about Hazard’s readiness to play against Palace, Conte said: “I’m confident, but I’m confident not only to play, but to play really good.”