Blues boss: We paid price for failing to buy

DEFIANT Antonio Conte insisted he did not fear the sack, despite being in a fight to finish in the Champions League places.

He became the first Chelsea boss in 28 years to lose at home to Spurs, but claimed he has squeezed all he can out of his squad.

The Blues are in fifth, eight points behind yesterday’s visitors, but he suggested that vindicated his complaints throughout the campaign over the board’s transfer policy.

The Italian, widely expected to leave at the end of the season, said: “I’m not worried. Honestly. I think I’m giving – the players are giving – everything this season.

“We’re working very hard to try to have a good season, but I think that, in the end, we are deserving this season. It means that our value is this.

“On the one hand, we must be realistic and understand the teams that stay ahead of us are going very fast, at great speed.

“Today we had a great chance to close the gap with Tottenham and we lost this chance. On the other hand, we have to know that, until the end, we have to try and do our best. To try in these seven games to do everything to take a place in the Champions League. But it won’t be easy.”

Chelsea have lost four of their last six matches, a run which includes their Champions League exit.

Conte added: “We’re working very well, very hard, and the commitment of the players is top. Despite this, you stay in this position. We must be a bit worried about this.”

Conte responded to Dele Alli scoring the second of his two goals by booting water bottles on the touchline.

He said: “There was great frustration to concede a stupid goal in this way.

“Instead of putting the ball in the stand. I did this with the bottle of water.”