Antonio Conte predicts where Chelsea will finish in the Premier League
Antonio Conte admits Chelsea are currently fighting for a top four finish in the Premier League this season
Antonio Conte has admitted that his Chelsea side will have to rethink their targets for the season in the Premier League after their 1-0 loss to West Ham on Saturday.
The Blues slumped to a surprise defeat by David Moyes’ side at the London Stadium as their impressive run of results came to an end to leave their title hopes in serious doubt.
Chelsea now find themselves in third place in the table and a staggering 14 points behind leaders Manchester City in the race for the title this season.
The west London side had been hoping to defend their Premier League title this season but with Manchester City leading the way, back-to-back triumphs now looks increasingly unlikely.
Chelsea will aim to return to winning ways in the top flight on Tuesday night when they travel to Huddersfield Town in the Premier League.
However, Conte has all but admitted that Chelsea are now fighting for a top-four finish, rather than the Premier League title.
Conte told his post-match news conference on Saturday: “Now it is very important for us to be focused on the league, to go game by game, to try to find the right energy to play every three days and to take three points in the kind of game we had against West Ham.
“There is a problem in this league: there are six top teams and only four places for the Champions League.
“You have targets and also, if Manchester City has many points over you, you have an important target to try to go in the first four and to play Champions League.
“Don’t forget, two years ago Chelsea missed this target and last season we didn’t play European games. Last season Arsenal and Manchester United were out of these places.
“Then Manchester United won the Europa League, otherwise they were out [of the Champions League] and also Arsenal, for the first time in 19 years.
“To reach this target is not simple. It’s very important for me, the players, for all of us. This league is not simple to reach the top four positions.”
Chelsea won the Premier League title in style in Conte’s first campaign at the club last season, but the Blues did not have the distraction of European football last term.
