Antonio Conte targets EFL Cup
The Chelsea manager has set his set his sight on guiding his team to the much coveted title.
ABlues side showing eight changes beat Bournemouth 2- 1 on Wednesday night to set up a two-legged semi-final with Arsenal
Antonio Conte targeted a EFL Cup final spot after a «remarkable» run to the last four.
A Blues side showing eight changes beat Bournemouth 2-1 on Wednesday night to set up a two-legged semifinal with Arsenal,who beat Chelsea in last May’s FA Cup final.
« This is a remarkable achievement for us,» said head coach Conte, who was speaking before the draw. «We want to continue, to try to reach Wembley to play the final.»
Conte was comparing the progress to last season› s fourth round defeat at West Ham and in light of the use of his more peripheral performers.
However, the Italian had to call on the cavalry to beat the Cherries.
Willian had given Chelsea a 13th-minute lead but the Blues invited pressure and Dan Gosling equalised in the 90th minute of the quarterfinal tie at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea attacked from the restart and Eden Hazard back-heeled into the path of fellow substitute Alvaro Morata, who tucked in to send the Blues through.
«It was important, because to go and to play 30 minutes more, I think it was a bit dangerous, » Conte said. «We had a great reaction. It›s not simple to concede a goal in the last minute of the game. When you have this type of reaction, it means you have players with great character, great personality, great heart.»
Morata was booked following his goal and is now suspended for Saturday›s trip to Everton, when Conte is likely to deploy Hazard as a ‹false nine› once again after another underwhelming display by Michy Batshuayi.
It was against the Toffees in the fourth round of the League Cup that Ethan Ampadu made his first Chelsea start and the 17-year-old was entrusted to begin against Bournemouth.
The Wales international showed his class, following an early rush of blood which saw him booked in the second minute for a foul on visiting striker Jermain Defoe.
«Ampadu played the whole game with this problem,» Conte added. «He showed great maturity, great personality.
Meanwhile, Chelsea predictably made it past Bournemouth to reach the League Cup semi-finals, but through the most unpredictable and gloriously chaotic of endings.
Having rather nervously led 1-0 for most of the game through an early Willian strike, they were eventually somewhat justifiably punished in the 90th minute when Dan Gosling curled in an equaliser. Rather than bringing extra-time, though, that saw Chelsea show their extra quality. Substitutes Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata beautifully combined for the Spanish striker to score, and send their side into the last four.
The very fact they were on the pitch showed just how much Antonio Conte wanted to win this game, and this competition, and win the first knock-out trophy of his career. It does mean that Morata won’t be on the pitch for the Everton game on Saturday, though, as his celebration brought a fifth booking of the season and a suspension. Amid the raucous celebrations, however, no one seemed too bothered. THE INDEPENDENT PUNE : Indian tennis players Yuki Bhambri, Ramkumar Ramanathan and Arjun Kadhe will get a direct entry to the main draw of the Tata Open Maharashtra, the organisers announced on Saturday.
Bhambri, who is India›s top-ranked singles pro on ATP at 116 will lead the Indian challenge at the event, to be held from December 30 to January 6 at the Mhalunge Balewadi Stadium.
The 25-year-old Delhi pro has been one of the consistent Indian players in last one year. In November, Yuki won the KPIT-MSLTA Challenger event beating Ramanathan in the finals.
«I›ve had some good results this year and have played over 20 tournaments. The last time I came to Pune I won the event so I›m looking forward to the event,» said Bhambri.
Ramkumar Ramanathan (142) comes to the main draw at the back of winning three titles in ITF Futures event. The 23-year-old from Chennai will make his fifth appearance in the main draw of this event.
His best performance here came in 2016 when he reached the quarterfinals. In 2013 edition, ranked 789, he beat Somdev Devvarman, ranked 90 then, in the round of 32.
Kadhe, on the other hand, comes to this event winning his first ever Futures title. On his way to the title, the Pune lad didn›t drop a single set and beat Australian Andrew Harris 7-5, 6-3 in the final of the hard court event played in Thu Dau Mot City, Vietnam.
At 18, he got his first taste of the Indian ATP event playing the qualifying round of Chennai Open in 2012, losing to Kenny De Schepper in the 1st round. The wild card entry should be a great motivation for the Maharashtra no. 1 who has been in great form recently. In doubles, Kadhe won two ITF Doubles title in December itself. IANS