CONTE’S GREAT BALLS OF IRE
Croaky Blues boss admits FA Cup defeat still sticks in his throat
ANTONIO CONTE admits Chelsea’s FA Cup Final defeat still sticks in his throat.
Conte is desperate for revenge because he feels hard done by after Arsenal beat his side at Wembley in May to stop the Blues clinching the Double.
But Conte is worried about losing his voice for tomorrow’s London derby because he has got a throat infection and is on antibiotics.
The Chelsea boss, who was struggling to talk in his prematch press conference, said: “I hope to solve this situation and have been taking antibiotics, otherwise… it will be a problem for me.
“In my office, when I arrive, I close the air conditioning. But when you stay on the team bus, I risk a lot, because I suffer with air conditioning. I think the air conditioning is stronger than the cough sweets!”
Will the players be relieved if he loses his voice? Conte laughed: “I prefer to recover!”
Conte (right) is renowned for his touchline histrionics and is also animated as he barks out orders to his players.
There was no hiding from the fact he thinks Chelsea have been robbed the last two times they met Arsenal at Wembley.
In the final, Alexis Sanchez’s opening goal stood despite claims of handball, while Victor Moses was sent off. And Pedro also saw red in the Community Shield last month. Chelsea and Arsenal have met four times since Conte arrived last summer and Arsene Wenger’s men have triumphed on three occasions, albeit once on penalties in the Community Shield.
Conte said: “You know very well that in a single game anything can happen, if you face a strong team. In the cup final, we played against Arsenal, one of the six top teams in England. “I remember very well that game, we were also a bit unlucky. If you remember the first goal was very strange. I am sure that this goal was disallowed. Instead, we started the game 1-0 down. “Then we tried to change the game, then a red card, with 10 men we drew, but then we conceded another goal. When you lose, there is always disappointment, but I think last season was a great season for us, a big achievement. “Teams are driven by disappointment. I always see a good mentality from my players. Remember after a bad start to the season, the Burnley defeat, I had a good answer from my players. This showed great mentality from my players.
“I hope to finish the game with 11 players, yes. Because in the last two games, FA Cup Final and the Community Shield, we finished two games with 10 men. I hope this. Then, during the game, I think the best team will win.
“For sure, Arsenal is a big rival for the title. If you see their squad, you can understand there are a lot of top players. I don’t understand why they can’t fight for the title. It’s normal.
“They lost only one player now, Oxlade-Chamberlain. They kept all the players from last season. In their squad there are many top players.”