Conte concedes defeat in bid to qualify for Champions League

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte all but conceded defeat in his sides quest to qualify for next seasons Champions League after West Ham boosted their Premier League survival hopes by snatching a draw in Sundays London derby.

Soon-to-be-dethroned top-flight champions Chelsea were on course for victory following defender Cesar Azpilicuetas opener, only for ex-Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez to climb off the bench to rescue what at times appeared an unlikely point with virtually his first touch.

It was the sixth time in his career that Hernandez had emerged as a substitute to net against Chelsea, and his strike left West Ham six points clear of the relegation zone prior to their crunch game with Stoke next Monday.

As for Chelsea, who are now 10 points adrift of a top-four place, Conte insisted the frustration he felt with the Blues being unable to secure victory illustrated why a coherent title defence never materialised this term.

“If we are not able to win this type of game, then we are talking about what?” said Conte. “I like to continue to say: We have to work and improve. But you must win this game if you want to reach a target, in this case a place in the Champions League.

“Other teams are clinical. They create a chance, they are ready to suffer and ready to win the game. This season, we have struggled a lot in this type of game. In a perfect way, this game is our season.”

As well as showering goalkeeper Joe Hart with praise following a number of crucial saves, West Ham manager David Moyes, who described the manner in which Chelsea scored as “poxy”, also lauded the predatory instincts of Hernandez.

“Chicharito has made a career out of scoring goals and is a great penalty box striker,” said Moyes. “You can name loads of strikers who are really instinctive in where they go to score, things you cannot teach or coach, and Javier has all that.”

Following a tribute to their former captain and coach Ray Wilkins, the Blues were almost ahead inside five minutes as the waspish Eden Hazard fired narrowly wide of Harts upright following a darting run.

Willian was then denied by Hart, although from the resulting short corner routine after 36 minutes, a Victor Moses cross was nodded by Alvaro Morata into the path of Azpilicueta, who prodded home from inside the six-yard box.

Willian, Morata and Moses all had chances to extend Chelseas lead in the second period before Marko Arnautovic cut the ball back for Hernandez to lash low beyond Chelsea stopper Thibaut Courtois on 73 minutes.

In the end, Hart was a principal reason for the Hammers leaving Stamford Bridge with a point as he tipped over a thunderous Marcos Alonso effort before clawing a downward Olivier Giroud header around the post.

[contf]
[contfnew]

CityAM

[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]