SOUTHAMPTON 2
JUST when it looked like time for Roman Abramovich to wield the axe again, Antonio Conte conjured up a comeback to save his job.
Two goals down with half an hour to go, and his team looking ragged and run down, the Italian was staring at a sixth successive away game without winning.
A week away from an FA Cup semifinal against the same opponents and the last chance to salvage something from a miserable campaign, it would surely have tempted his owner to ring the changes yet again. Instead Conte sent on Olivier Giroud and the Frenchman scored twice, while Eden Hazard got another, in an eightminute blitz that turned the game upside down.
Even Conte understood the transformation. “I was very unhappy with the first half because we didn’t show great desire or will to fight,” said the Chelsea boss, who had come out early after giving his talk at the interval and sat alone in the dug-out.
“But then we showed great character, and a great resolution and desire to win the game. We had the right fire in our eyes.
“It isn’t important if you win, lose or draw, what is most important is to play with great intensity and a will to fight from the start to the end.” Giroud had that, although whether he came to the rescue in spite of Conte or because of him, only he knows. These were his first league goals since leaving Arsenal largely because he hasn’t been given the game time that he moved for.
He simply has to start when the two sides meet again at Wembley next weekend.
Alvaro Morata had been incapable of holding up the ball, but Chelsea suddenly had a platform from which to build attacks through Giroud.
“Don’t forget that Alvaro scored against Leicester and Tottenham,” said Conte, explaining his decision.
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