CHELSEA manager Antonio Conte is resigned to his side being OUT of the title race.
The Blues lost 1-0 to West Ham at the London Stadium, a result that sees them 11 points behind leaders Manchester City having played a game more.
With less than half of the season played, Chelsea have already lost four matches this season – only one fewer than they lost in the whole of their title-winning campaign a year ago.
Speaking after the game, a morose Conte said: “This is the fourth defeat this season in 16 games.
“When you have this stat, it’s impossible to think you’re in the title race.
“It’s impossible, my experience tells this. You can ose once or twice [at this stage of the season].” He added: “We never started the race.
“To lose the first game against Burnley, against Crystal Palace, to lose again agaisnt West Ham… you can’t lose points in these games.
“It means you are not in title race.
“We try to do our best. [At the start of the season] I said it well be very tough, very difficult.”
Conte was then asked if that was because the Chelsea board didn’t get him the players he wanted.
The Italian hinted that he wants reinforcements in January. “I don’t want to speak about this,” he said, “we have just started December and there is one month before January.
“I think it’s better [if I] speak with the club and tell them my opinion.
“The final decision [on transfers] is the club.
“I can give my opinion.”
Conte also claimed that hauling struggling Tiemoue Bakayoko – one of the players whose addition this summer has been questioned – off at half-time was a tactical decision. “Bakayoko was playing a good game, but when you find 11 players behind the ball and losing 1-0 it’s important to change something, to find a different solution.
“Pedro is better one v one, he is more attacking. To lose a phsyical player in this game was not important.
“He satisfied me with his performance.”
From The Sun
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