CONTE WANTS LEAGUE FOCUS DESPITE SUCCESS IN FA CUP
▶ Chelsea reach final and a date with Man United after defeating Southampton in the semis
Antonio Conte has not given up hope of Chelsea finishing in the top four in the Premier League as they celebrated reaching the FA Cup final for the second successive year yesterday with a 2-0 victory over Southampton.
Goals from Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata gave Chelsea the win at Wembley Stadium and set up a showdown with Manchester United and former manager Jose Mourinho in the final on May 19.
Conte though said that he and his players could not afford to look ahead to the game, which will again be at Wembley, with the task between now and then being trying to qualify for the Uefa Champions League next season.
Chelsea are fifth in the table with four games of their league campaign to go, five adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
Conte told the BBC: “If we want to continue to have hope of getting into the Champions League we have to take three points in these four games. Now we must be focused on the league.”
Chelsea’s 13th FA Cup final appearance will be a repeat of the 2007 showpiece, when Mourinho’s men won 1-0.
The London side, back in the final after losing to Arsenal in May, last won the competition in 2012 and are bidding to lift the trophy for the eighth time.
Winning the FA Cup might not be enough to convince either Conte or Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich that their two-year partnership should be extended.
Conte has spent much of the season complaining about Chelsea’s failure to back his transfer plans, while several of his players are believed to be unhappy with his demanding training sessions and intense personality.
The Italian acknowledged that his side, who had gone into the season as league champions, had endured a difficult season and that reaching the FA Cup final was a consolation of sorts to offer to supporters.
“We deserved to win the game and reach a second cup final in a row. To reach final we are very pleased, especially for our fans, they are the first to deserve this satisfaction.
“Now our target is to try and put a bit of pressure on the teams in front of us in the Premier League and get a place in the Champions League and finish as best as possible.
“It’s important for us to reach a final in this competition especially because we are struggling a lot in the league.”
Opting to select Giroud instead of Morata as his lone striker proved a shrewd move by Conte as the former Arsenal star produced a tremendous piece of skill to break the deadlock early in the second half.
Giroud has feasted on the Southampton side this season, scoring twice to spark Chelsea’s 3-2 win last weekend and also netting a late equaliser against them for Arsenal in December.
His fourth goal for Chelsea since his January signing was followed by a late header from substitute Morata to seal victory. Southampton manager Mark Hughes claimed the crucial moment was the officials’ refusal to use the video assistant referee (VAR) when Chelsea keeper Willy Caballero appeared to have dropped the ball over the line under pressure from Charlie Austin.
“We are disappointed with the officials. Their goalkeeper has thrown the ball into the back of the net,” Hughes said.
“If ever there was a case for VAR to review, that was the moment. Why it wasn’t referred I’ve no idea.”