CONTE BLASTS ‘STUPID’ NEVILLE AND REDKNAPP AS CITY CLOSE ON TITLE

Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0

CHELSEA boss Antonio Conte branded pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Redknapp “stupid” for criticising his negative approach against Manchester City.

Neville branded Conte’s approach an “embarrassment” while fellow Sky analyst Redknapp called the ultra-defensive display a “crime against football” and “anti-football”.

But Conte, whose side failed to register a shot on target and had just 29 per cent possession, hit back at the pair and accused them of lacking tactical knowledge.

“I’m not so stupid to play open

against Manchester City and lose 3-0 or 4-0,” said Conte.

“If I remember well, three days ago, Arsenal played twice against City and then you criticised Arsene Wenger because they conceded three goals in only 30 minutes.

“The pundit has to use the head to understand when you speak about tactics, because I think you must have knowledge to speak about tactics and not only to speak in a stupid way.”

City’s win, which came via a 46th-minute goal from Bernardo Silva, extended their lead at the top of the table to 18 points and means they need four more wins to be champions. Pep Guardiola’s side can make Premier League history with the biggest points haul, most goals scored and largest winning margin, but the City boss wants to clinch the title before thinking about records.

“What really matters is to be champion,” said Guardiola. “I never spoke to players about the records – it’s all about the next game.

“Against Basel we’re going to try to play the way we did today then Stoke we’re going to play like we did all season and after that we’ll see.

“If you think about the records you forget what you have to do.”