Chelsea manager Antonio Conte will be a happy man. After beating Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-final 4-2, on Tuesday, they beat Southampton 4-2 as well to go seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
With the wins, Conte believes that his side has passed a psychological test. Chelsea now need four wins in five Premier league game to become champions. Pressure will be on Tottenham Hotspur, who will visit Crystal Palace on Wednesday, to win as they are second and the only team that can beat Chelsea to the title.
“I think that we passed a big, big step,” Conte said. “A big psychological step after the defeat against United. Because, against United, we lost three points and then you had to prepare a semi-final against Tottenham and then another tough game in the league. I think that, in that moment, we have had a really important psychological test, and our answer was very good. For this reason I must be pleased.” Chelsea had lost to United 2-0 ten days ago at Old Trafford.
However, Conte warned his players against complacency. “We must think this race is open,” Chelsea’s manager added. “We reached the final of the FA Cup but the other situation in the league is totally open. But we are ready to fight until the end.”
On Diego Costa’s performance against Southampton, where the Spanish striker scored two goals, Conte said that he was impressed. Costa’s was linked with a summer move to China that created a rift between him and the manager. However, all is well so it seems at Stamford Bridge. “I continue to repeat this concept: it’s important to be focused on the moment because the moment is very important for all of us,” said Conte. “In this period, I’m reading a lot of speculation about every one of us. It’s right to be focused. I’m sure my players are focused on our targets. It’s normal at this part of the season to have someone who wants to put problems in your team, to create also ‘not order’, but we must be stronger than this speculation. We must be compact and think our target is really [more] important than the other teams’.”
Costa was facing a drought of goals since he had not scored in five league matches. Conte praised his attitude and workrate. “It’s normal for the strikers, for the forwards, that it is important to score,” he said. “The goals are their life. But, for me, I’ve always said I’ve been pleased with his commitment, his work for the team. He always worked for the team. Sometimes he was unlucky in different circumstances, but I was always confident about him. After the Tottenham game I said I’m sure he’s keeping his goals for the final weeks of the season. Now he must continue. He’s very important for us. His confidence is very important for us. He scored two very beautiful goals, good combination and technique between him and his team-mates.”