Saturday 14 April 2018 16:07, UK
Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte says he is only focused on the present as speculation over his future at the club continues.
Conte insists his players must share responsibility for the decline in results that means last season's Premier League champions are unlikely to qualify for the Champions League this campaign.
"The most important thing is to be focused on the present," Conte said. "Then there is the club who, for sure, are working for the future.
"There is a situation where we have to think about the present, to work very hard and try and improve your future.
"It is very difficult to talk about the future. Now we must be focused on the present to try and finish the season as strongly as possible. This must be our target.
"Now it's not right to see forward because the present is very important for us. More important than the future.
"We have to finish this season. We have six games in the league. We have a semi-final in the FA Cup. Then will come the time to speak about the future."
Conte's future has been the subject of uncertainty throughout the season, during which he has criticised the club's transfer policy, while Napoli's Maurizio Sarri has been reportedly linked with Conte's position.
Chelsea can still win the FA Cup but they are 10 points off the Premier League top four. They play relegation-threatened Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday, eight days before the clubs meet at Wembley in an FA Cup semi-final.
"When you have this type of season you have to share this responsibility," Conte added. "I'm the coach. I'm the coach of this team. I'm the first person to take my responsibility. But, for sure, I'm not alone.
"We made a lot of mistakes this season. When I talk about a lot of mistakes, I involve me, my staff, the players and the club.
"When we win or when we lose, we must be ready to share the responsibility. I'm the first to take my responsibility. Then there is the club. Then there is the players.
"If we don't qualify for the Champions League, it means that we have to divide the fault, also with the players."
