team don’t need the FA Cup for the season to be a success.
Conte said: “For sure, we have to try to win the FA Cup. But I repeat: it’s not important.
“A lot of times we compare good seasons and bad seasons on if you win something.
“Last season we did a fantastic job. Every player performed 120 per cent, maybe 130 per cent.
“But also in this season we are doing a fantastic job, a great job — this must be important. Then, if you are able to win something, it’s good, but you have to understand what is your position in this moment.
“It’s not simple. If you remember, we lost a lot of players, old players, that created a basis for Chelsea for a long time.”
The Italian won the Premier League in his first full campaign in England, but has endured a turbulent second term.
But Conte added: “Now we are trying to build a basis, trying to get the fundamentals right for this club. For this reason we have a lot of young players with a lack of experience when you play against teams like Barcelona.
“Many players are playing for the first time in this competition and they need more time to have experience playing at this level.”
Conte has spent much of this season saying that, after winning the title, he didn’t get the signings he wanted — or needed to compete with Manchester City. But he said: “It’s not important if I want to add another trophy in my career. The most important thing is to work very hard, to try to improve the club and the players.
“Everyone wants to win something when you start the season. But I’m very satisfied for my job, for the work we’re doing — me, the staff, my players.
“Don’t forget this season has confirmed one thing: that last season was an incredible achievement.”
JOHN TERRY wants to play on next season.The former England skipper has decided that there is still one more campaign in his legs and Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce is aware of his plans.The 37-year-old has played a key role for Villa this season, adding a winning mentality to a dressing-room that had seriously lost its way.And even though making automatic promotion now appears to be a long shot, Terry would still be happy to stay on at Villa Park.However, he will remain a free agent and Villa will have to come up with a suitable package.If they head into the Premier League – either automatically or via the play-offs – Bruce is likely to offer Terry a swan song.The ex-Chelsea legend will have to take a pay cut if Villa don’t go up, but he will be due a hefty bonus if the club does return to the big-time.A final crack at the Premier League would pit Terry against his former club for the first time in his career. BURNLEY goalkeeper Tom Heaton steps up his comeback from injury tomorrow in the week that his replacement Nick Pope joins up with England for the first time.Three-times capped Heaton, 31, faces a fight on two fronts — to reclaim his first-team place and earn a Three Lions recall after dislocating his shoulder in September against Crystal Palace.Pope, meanwhile, has impressed, endorsed by a call-up from Gareth Southgate for England’s forthcoming friendlies against Holland and Italy.Heaton has so far played in two behind closed doors friendlies and tomorrow features for Burnley’s Under-23’s development side at Charlton. ANTONIO CONTE knows a thing or two about great players — he marked Diego Maradona and Roberto Baggio in his playing days. And the Chelsea boss is adamant that there’s no one better than Lionel Messi (above) in the game today after the Argentine ace scored three goals in two legs against the Blues to help Barcelona to a 4-1 aggregate Champions League victory. Asked if there was any player at Chelsea or in England as good as Messi, FACE-OFF: Leicester have to deny Eden Hazard space to run into today Conte said: “Don’t joke. Not only in England, but in general.” Conte added: “In history, for sure: Maradona and Pele. Players that can change the final result. “I played against Maradona. When you played against these players, you had to mark man-to-man. “Now, in modern football, you must be strong, fast. You can see when Messi goes for a tackle, he’s very strong. He’s not tall, but he’s very strong. He’s fast.”
SATISFIED: Conte