CONTE FIRED BY REVENGE
LEICESTER........... 1 CHELSEA.............. 2 ANTONIO CONTE wants to finally lift the FA Cup after admitting he is still feeling raw after Chelsea blew the Double last term.
Pedro came off the bench to head an extra-time winner which saw off Leicester to set-up a semi-final with struggling Southampton.
Last season’s champions are now favourites for the FA Cup after the draw, despite losing 2-1 in the final to Arsenal in 2017.
Blues boss Conte is out to avenge that loss and said: “This trophy is very important. There is great consideration given to it. We showed a great desire against Leicester and we will now go for the second time in a row to Wembley.
“Last season it was a pity to lose the final and not celebrate the Double with the players.
“I want to change the final result. We want to do our best and satisfy our fans, who pushed the team a lot here.”
Conte was pleased with the response of his side who crashed out of the Champions League in midweek at Barcelona. But if
t he Italian does decide to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, as has been heavily hinted, he is clearly intent on saying goodbye with a wonderful leaving present. And if he can add the FA Cup to last year’s title it will raise more questions than answers about why he is leaving. Chelsea’s fans chanted his name during the game and at the end of 120 pulsating minutes as the competition produced another piece of history as it was the first time a quarter-final had gone to extra-time. The supporters still love Conte even though he has spent much of this season criticising the club’s transfer market policy. And even though the players had been pushed to their physical limits in Barcelona in midweek, they still proved they want to finish the season in some style. Chelsea face a battle to get back into the top four and yet the FA Cup could be one hell of a consolation prize. It was a cracking quarter-final full of drama and, despite the freezing weather, the atmosphere was red-hot.
Ultimately, Chelsea’s pedigree won through and incredibly this will be their 27th major semi-final in all competitions since the 1998-99 season. Who says their managerial revolving door policy does not work?
Chelsea took the lead three minutes before the break when Willian threaded a through-ball to Alvaro Morata. He held his nerve and slotted past Kasper Schmeichel.
Leicester kept plugging away and Jamie Vardy headed a chance wide. However, in the 76th minute Riyad Mahrez fired over a cross, Vicente Iborra was twice denied by Chelsea defenders only for Vardy to pounce on the loose ball and smash home.
The game went into extra time and it was Chelsea who got a 105th-minute winner. N’Golo Kante crossed, Schmeichel had a rush of blood to the head, raced out of his goal and there was Pedro in between Leicester pair Marc Albrighton and Ben Chilwell. Despite being the smallest of the four, he got his head to the ball and guided it into the unguarded net.
Conte added: “We must be pleased with the team’s character. After a game in Champions League it wasn’t easy for us.”
“I think Morata’s goal will be very important for our future.”