Conte seeks loyalty from star players
ANTONIO CONTE believes Chelsea’s struggling stars should not look for an easy exit if they fail to qualify for the Champions League — and must take their share of the blame. Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois are among those who could leave at the end of the season as the pair are being chased by Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain respectively. Chelsea sit fifth in the Premier League, 10 points behind Tottenham. The west London club travel to Southampton today looking for only their fourth win of 2018. As it stands, Conte is not putting any plans together for the summer amid the uncertainty over his future, but said: ‘If we don’t qualify for the Champions League it means that we have to divide the fault, also with the players. ‘If you are not able to take a qualification in the Champions League, then you must consider playing next season without Champions League and to stay here and fight for this club. ‘We must be frustrated. You start the season with great expectations. Instead, this season we have struggled. ‘I’m the coach of this team. I’m the first person to take responsibility. But, for sure, I’m not alone.’ And Southampton manager Mark Hughes is demanding that his players forget the cup tie in their desperate pursuit of Premier League survival. ‘The next game is the most important one because that’s clearly the situation we’re in. ‘We’re not looking too far ahead because we can’t,’ he said.