Conte insists Chelsea’s fight for top-four finish is alive

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte insists his side have not given up hope of qualifying for next seasons Champions League after Thursday's victory over in-form Burnley boosted their chances of a top-four finish.

Wing-back Victor Moses was Chelseas matchwinner, moments after a fortuitous strike from Burnley hitman Ashley Barnes cancelled out a first-half own goal from the hosts defender Kevin Long.

Having recorded back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time in 2018, Chelsea closed the gap on fourth-placed Tottenham to five points, taking advantage of their rivals picking up just one point from their previous two games.

“If we think about the past, for sure we have missed great chances to stay closer to them [top four] but the only way to go is to keep trying to get three points from now until the end of the season,” said Conte. “It wont be easy because the gap is five points.”

Conte spoke glowingly of the partnership formed by Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata as the pair started together in attack for the first time, but was forced to play down an apparent strop by the Spaniard, who was wasteful in front of goal, following his second-half substitution.

The Italian added: “Alvaro must be angry because when you have a chance to score, you have to score, especially as a striker. I think he was angry with himself for this chance he missed, but I have to look at his whole performance and I am very happy.”

Burnley were aiming for a sixth successive victory in a top-flight clash for the first time since November 1968 but fell behind on 20 minutes in unfortunate circumstances.

Moses made headway into the penalty area before dinking a ball into the six-yard box which goalkeeper Nick Pope and Long both attempted to clear, only for the latter to turn into his own net.

Chelsea squandered a glorious chance to double their lead 10 minutes after half-time when a clever NGolo Kante pass sent Morata clean through on goal but the striker fired horribly wide with only Pope to beat.

The Blues were made to pay shortly after the hour mark as Johann Berg Gudmundssons long-range effort took a wicked deflection off the heel of Barnes and found the far corner with Chelsea stopper Thibaut Courtois helpless.

Chelsea, however, were level for a matter of minutes and restored their lead when a cross from Emerson Palmieri evaded Girouds attempted scorpion kick and Moses slammed past Pope.

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