Conte shrugs off talk of double
FA CUP After reaching quarterfinals, Chelsea manager says it’s too early to think of Londoners as runaway champions
WOLVERHAMPTON:Antonio Conte has warned his players to avoid complacency as they seek to become just the third club in the history of English football to win the Premier League and FA Cup ‘Double’ on two separate occasions.
A 2-0 fifth round win away to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday took Chelsea through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, while they maintain a healthy, eight-point, lead at the top of the Premier League table.
That has left Conte’s team on course to join Arsenal, one of their London rivals, and Manchester United in winning ‘The Double’ for a second time, although the cautious manager refused to take anything for granted.
“I think it’s a little early to talk about this,” Conte said. “But for sure we are in these two competitions.
“In the league we are doing a great job to stay on top of the table. Now, in the FA Cup, we are in the quarter-finals and I’m pleased with this because it means we’re doing very well.
“We’re working very well but honestly, after this game it’s important to understand that nothing is easy,” explained Conte, who joined Chelsea in pre-season after a stint managing Italy’s national side.
“If someone thinks that for sure in the league Chelsea will become champions, and for sure we can win the FA Cup, it will be very difficult.
“But we know that. We understand we want to stay there and we want to try to reach the end and win some trophies.
“Because when you stay at a great club then your job is this, to try to fight until the end to try to win some trophies. We’re in a good position now but we have to work very hard.”
The biggest crowd at Molineux for 36 years — 30,193 — saw Chelsea negotiate the fifth round tie with second-half goals from Pedro and Diego Costa.
But the top-flight visitors were forced to battle for the victory and withstand a strong first half performance from a Wolves team that is currently struggling at the wrong end of the second-tier Championship table. Kane 16, 51, 73 Pedro 65 Costa 89