Against Swansea on Saturday evening, Chelsea had the type of game Antonio Conte was anticipating but achieved the type of result he was sure we needed.
The boss spoke after the 1-0 win which came courtesy of an early Cesc Fabregas goal, and before heading back to London, where he now has a week to prepare the team for facing third-place Liverpool. Conte agreed that beating Swansea had not been easy and he listed their home form since early January prior today – unbeaten with wins against three of the top seven…
‘Tough game’ were his opening words. ‘But we I knew this. I said yesterday in the press conference that our expectation was to have a tough game against a team fighting to avoid relegation. But for us a good win. We got three points and for us it is very important if we want to keep the hope alive, if we want to take a place in the Champions League. But Swansea played a good game, especially in the second half when they tried to push at us.
CHELSEA MOVE TO WITHIN TWO POINTS OF TOTTENHAM, WHO ARE IN FOURTH…
‘For sure the situation is not in our hands,’ Conte said, ‘but the only way to put a little pressure on Tottenham is to get three points in every game. It won’t be easy. They play against Watford on Monday but in football it is not simple to win the game, especially in this league. But for sure the situation is not in our hands at this moment.’
NOT FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON, CONTE THOUGHT HIS TEAM SHOULD HAVE WON MORE COMFORTABLY…
‘We could be more clinical and kill the game, but instead today we kept the game in the balance. For example, against West Ham we dominated and had many chances and scored only one goal and drew, and today could happen the same, Swansea could have drawn. We are paying this season for not being clinical.
‘Our top scorer has scored only 12 goals,’ he pointed out, ‘and if your best scorer has only scored 12 it means it is very difficult to fight for something important this season.’
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