Antonio Conte admits Chelsea's recent performances have been underwhelming
Friday 9 March 2018 15:10, UK
Antonio Conte says his squad are in good spirits but admits he has regrets about some of Chelsea's recent displays.
A dismal performance at the Etihad last weekend saw Chelsea fail to register a single shot on target as the Premier League champions slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City.
That was Chelsea's fourth loss in their last five Premier League games. And with five points separating the Blues and fourth-placed Tottenham in the race for a Champions League place, Conte admits Saturday's London derby against Crystal Palace is a must-win game.
"Our confidence, for sure when you lose many games in a row it is not simple, but for sure we have to regret the games against Bournemouth, Watford, Manchester United," Conte said.
"When we play against City there is the possibility to lose the game, but our confidence is normal. We are working very well - like always - and tomorrow we'll see the performance if we are good enough to get three points.
"I think they [Crystal Palace] have lost their last couple of games, against Tottenham and United. We need to have a good performance and we need three points but we know we are playing against a really good team with good talented players. But for sure we need to get three points."
Eden Hazard was once again deployed as a false No 9 for the trip to champions-elect Manchester City and the Belgian cut a forlorn, isolated figure as he struggled for service from the players behind him.
Conte revealed he could turn to Alvaro Morata or Olivier Giroud for Saturday's visit of Palace, insisting he has utmost confidence in both of them.
"Tomorrow we have this option to play with Giroud or Morata as No 9," Conte said.
"For us it is an important game, we want to try and get three points but we will see tomorrow what is my final decision.
"I trust for sure. I am working with both to bring them into the best form and physical condition.
"Morata is coming back from a strange injury in his back and was out for a long time and Giroud is in good form now. He is working very well every day and is in good physical condition, but for sure I trust in all of my players."
Chelsea's performance against City was roundly criticised by pundits across the media, and Conte accepts that scrutiny is part-and-parcel of managing a Premier League club as big as Chelsea.
"I think this [criticism] is part of our job," Conte said.
"Sometimes the critics are constructive. Sometimes the critics are rubbish. We must have respect for the others but at the end, pundits are pundits and managers are managers."
Conte has been linked with Paris Saint-Germain this week but the Italian, who has one year left on his Chelsea contract, insists he remains fully focused on the job at hand at Stamford Bridge.
"It is very strange from the start of the season to read or to listen to a lot of news about my job and the club," he said.
"I think that I have already answered this question and nothing has changed in respect of the past."
