Chelsea will host West Ham on Sunday, hoping to bounce back from last weekend’s disappointing defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur.
The Blues are fighting to secure a place in Premier League’s top four this season but suffered a massive blow following their 3-1 defeat to Spurs at the Stamford Bridge.
The gap between Chelsea and Spurs is 8 points and if Antonio Conte’s team are to have any chance of playing Champions League football next season, they need to win every game from now.
Team News
Conte has confirmed that David Luiz and Ethan Ampadu will miss the West Ham game.
“At the moment two players are out, Luiz and Ampadu. The other players, we have two days to check the physical condition of the players. Now for sure we have two players out, Luiz and Ampadu,” Conte said in his pre-match presser.
Asked about Pedro and Thibaut Courtois’s chances of playing on Sunday, our boss added: “Yeah, could be.”
West Ham will be buoyant following their 3-0 win over Southampton last weekend. The Hammers are five points above the drop zone and will be confident of causing an upset on Sunday.
On the West Ham match, Conte said:
“We must pay great attention. In the last period they are playing good football and getting good results and we must pay great attention. At the same time we want to get three points, it is a London derby and for us it is an important game to try to continue to have a hope to reach the place in the Champions League.”
Asked if Chelsea can still make the Champions League next season, our gaffer claimed:
“For sure we must be realistic, to understand this defeat was a bad defeat for us. We had the opportunity to reduce the gap with Tottenham. We have to try to do everything, to try to continue to have the possibility to fight for a place in the Champions League.
“It won’t be easy, we must be realistic. We have to try to give all ourselves. We have to show pride, desire and will to fight until the end of the season, this must be our target.”
There has been a lot of speculation over Conte’s future this season but the Italian insists the speculation is false and that he is totally committed to Chelsea.
When asked about ex-Chelsea manager Gianluca Vialli’s claim, he said:
“It is not true, it is not true.”
“Gianluca is a friend but I am not talking with him for one year, maybe. This is not true, not true and it is very difficult for me but this season I listen to a lot of speculation about my future.
“A lot of people talking about my future, I am reading a lot of speculation, but since the start of season, not now. The only truth is I am committed for this club, I have a contract at this club and working hard for this club, this is the truth. The other situations are not true.”
With Champions League qualification looking difficult, Conte has asked his players to show pride over the remaining weeks.
“I think everyone has to show pride, desire and will to fight until the end of the season. This is very important for me, for my staff and the players to show this. Also because our supporters deserve this, at least this.”
It will be tough to bounce back after a demoralising defeat at the hands of Spurs but let’s stay positive and hope that the team gives its best to beat West Ham on Sunday. It is now or never for Conte and co.