Conte eyes revenge
Bitter end to last season after Cup final loss to Arsenal
LONDON: Antonio Conte has challenged Chelsea to avenge last season’s FA Cup final heartache when they face title rivals Arsenal today.
Conte’s team were denied a memorable English Premier League and FA Cup double after the champions crashed to a 2-1 defeat against Arsenal at Wembley in May.
With Alexis Sanchez scoring a controversial opener for Arsenal and Chelsea’s Victor Moses sent off for diving, it was a bitter conclusion to an otherwise perfect first season in charge for Conte.
The Gunners also handed Conte the most chastening defeat of his reign earlier that season with a 3-0 victory in the league, as well as defeating Chelsea in the Community Shield at the start of this term.
Any meeting with London rivals Arsenal is a big moment in Chelsea’s season but those painful losses mean the latest derby at Stamford Bridge carries extra significance for Conte and company.
“I remember very well that game. We were unlucky, if you remember the first goal it was very strange,” Conte said of the Cup final.
“I was sure this goal would be disallowed, instead we started 1-0 down. We tried to change the game, then a red card, with 10 men we equalised but then we conceded another goal.
“When you lose there is always disappointment but I always see a good mentality from my players when there is a defeat.
“After a bad start to this season, the Burnley defeat, I had a good answer from my players, they showed a great mentality.”
That opening weekend loss to Burnley aside, it has been a perfect start for Chelsea, with three succes- sive league wins followed by a 6-0 thrashing of Qarabag in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Conte’s main concern heading into the derby is an illness that has given him a sore throat – not an ideal situation for a manager renowned for bellowing instructions at his players during matches.
“I’ve been taking antibiotics. I hope to solve this situation, otherwise it will be a problem for me!” said Conte, who could hand a first start of the season to Eden Hazard following his recovery from ankle surgery. — AFP