We blew it last year, says Conte

ANTONIO CONTE still rues his failure to guide Chelsea to FA Cup glory last season and has warned his players that it will be far harder to win the trophy this year.

Conte’s side are the firm favourites to beat Southampton in today’s semi-final at Wembley. However, the manager knows that a far harder test would await in the final compared to the Arsenal side they faced 11 months ago.

Chelsea had finished 18 points clear of their rivals, who were hit by an by an injury crisis. But the underdogs beat the new Premier League champions 2-1.

Conte said: ‘Last season we missed a great chance to win the FA Cup. This season I think that if we can win against Southampton, in the final it will be even more difficult.

‘Last season we were in the best condition to win the FA Cup and we missed the chance.’

Last week, Chelsea overturned a two-goal deficit to beat the Saints 3-2 in the league at St Mary’s.

Conte added: ‘We have to go to the pitch with the right fire in our eyes.

Alex McCarthy, meanwhile, has been on the Wembley bench four times without ever getting on the pitch; for Reading, England and twice for current club Southampton.

Today’s match-up with Chelsea should be fifth time lucky, as he bids to become only the third English goalkeeper to win the famous trophy this century.