CONTE: WE MUST BEAT SPURS

ANTONIO CONTE admits claiming a top-four place will be “difficult” if Chelsea fail to beat Tottenham.

The Blues host Spurs on Sunday, five points behind the north Londoners with time and games running out to claw their way into the Champions League places. Boss Conte said: “For sure, this is an important game for us. Our target for this final stretch of the season is to take a place in the Champions League and reach the final of the FA Cup and, this season, try and win it, if we are able to win against Southampton in the semi-final.

“If we win on Sunday, we go very close to Tottenham. Otherwise, we continue to stay not so close and, with seven games to go, it will be difficult to take a place in the Champions League. Nothing is impossible.

“We have to try to win every game and not drop points.”

Conte (right) is sweating on the fitness of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and defender Andreas Christensen, labelling them “two big problems”.

Courtois returned to Chelsea from the Belgium camp with a hamstring injury. Christensen was sent back to the Blues by Denmark due to fatigue.