Every underdog has its day
Conte: Blues not favourites for this final
ANTONIO CONTE claimed Chelsea will be FA Cup underdogs after setting up a glamour FA Cup Final against Manchester United.
But he reminded the Old Trafford giants his side being favourites last season counted for nothing when they were stunned in the Wembley showpiece.
Second-half goals from Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata against Southampton fired the Blues into a second successive cup final.
They will be aiming to make amends against United and former manager Jose Mourinho on May 19 after losing to Arsenal a year ago.
Chelsea boss Conte said: “This final is a game between two great teams.
“We played last season in the Final and arrived as favourites against Arsenal. This season we are arriving not as favourites. But as you know very well we lost the Final despite being favourites in my mind.”
It will be a final between two managers who were locked in a bitter war of words earlier this campaign.
Both bosses will also be trying to avoid finishing the season empty-handed when they lock horns next month.
But Conte said: “With Jose we have clarified the situation. There is not a problem between him and me.
“We are talking about two managers with strong characters and two winners. When in your mind and your heart and your blood there is the will to win, we want to try to win this trophy. The same way Manchester United want to do this. I have great respect for United’s story, for Mourinho’s story. They have the same respect for Chelsea’s story and my story.”
Mark Hughes slammed the officials for not using VAR for the match-defining moment against Chelsea.
Southampton saw a goal chalked off at 1-0 down after Blues keeper Willy Caballero juggled the ball over his own line under pressure from Charlie Austin. Ref Martin Atkinson instantly awarded Chelsea a free-kick for an Austin foul on Caballero with VAR Michael Jones choosing not to intervene.
And Saints boss Hughes was further frustrated by the officials after they later failed to spot a possible Olivier Giroud handball.
He said: “There’s disappointment because the goalkeeper’s made a wrong decision, basically thrown the ball into the back of his net.
“If ever there was a situation for VAR to play a hand and step in to review that, I would have thought that was an opportunity.
“It was a match-defining moment, a key moment. Who knows how the game might have followed?
“Why it wasn’t referred I have no idea.
“Giroud handled from the following corner, another they could have reviewed, but maybe that was a bit too quick for him. We’re disappointed with the officials on the day and whoever it is who sits in a darkened room.”