Conte fears a top-four spot is slipping away

CHELSEA manager Antonio Conte said his side’s defeat at Manchester United revealed a lack of ‘experience and maturity’ which puts a top-four finish in doubt.

If Chelsea lose at Manchester City next Sunday, they could fall five points adrift of the Champions League places.

‘When you have this type of situation you have to manage the game better and you must be able with experience, with maturity, to get three points,’ Conte said. ‘Instead we are talking about a loss again and we must be very disappointed.’

Asked if Chelsea could finish outside the top four, he said: ‘I don’t know but this could be a possibility for sure.’

United manager Jose Mourinho said Arsenal would also be out of the running for a top-four place if they fail to beat City in the Premier League on Thursday.

‘Arsenal really need to win against City, otherwise the distance will be too big for them, like happened to us last season,’ Mourinho said. ‘Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and us are four very good teams.’

Mourinho claimed the handshake he and Conte exchanged reflected mutual respect, despite their running feud.

‘That is what me and Antonio want to show everyone. The handshake before and after the match is an example that with everything in football you have to move (on) and respect each other.

‘Mourinho and Conte — they are not two ordinary people in football. We have a history, we have an image and I’m really happy with that.’

Conte said Alvaro Morata’s strike should not have been given offside and called for wider use of the video referee.

‘This type of situation can change the final result and for this reason I am very positive to introduce the VAR,’ he said.