CONTE: TITLE IS TOUGHER
ANTONIO CONTE claims the Premier League is harder to win than the Champions League.
His Chelsea side take on Liverpool at Stamford Bridge tomorrow needing a win to keep alive any hopes of qualifying for European football’s premier competition next season.
But Conte, who at one point described the Champions League as a “little tournament”, insists you prove your worth in the Premier League.
The Blues boss, who won the title last season, said: “You have 38 games to show you deserve to win the league. To show you are the best during the season.
“In the Champions League, when you reach the last 16 or quarterfinals or semi-finals, one situation – positive or negative – can change your future.
“For this reason, to win the Champions League you must be more lucky.
“You must be good to deserve it, but at the same time you must be lucky.
“One referee’s decision can settle your future totally. In the league, over 38 games, usually the team who deserves to win it, wins it.
“Luck is always important in every competition, but when you have the possibility to play 38 games, you can show you are the best.
“In a little tournament, like the FA Cup or Carabao or Champions League or Europa League, sometimes one decision can move your future.
“You can get lucky or unlucky. But Liverpool deserve it. They eliminated Manchester City and deserve to play in the final.” Conte, who has never won the Champions League as a manager, does not believe reaching the final will be a distraction for Liverpool, who could rest players tomorrow.
He added: “I think they want to finish this season in the best possible way. Also because they have to play two games.
“I don’t think the game in the Champions League could influence them.
“Liverpool are a good team. It won’t be easy but if we want to keep hope alive, we have to try.”
Conte (below) also insisted he was not to blame for the decision to allow Mo Salah to leave Chelsea on a permanent basis for Roma in 2016, just after he was appointed at Stamford Bridge.
The Egyptian went on to join Liverpool and has been named Footballer of the Year after a stellar return to English football.
But asked whether he had any influence over Chelsea’s decision to sell, Conte said: “No, no, no. I think the situation was very clear. No-one asked me about him.
“I don’t want to take this responsibility.
“If you put this on me, I’m in trouble. Put that on the person who has to take the responsibility.”