Conte: Morata still important despite Giroud impact

Conte: Morata still important despite Giroud impact

Top players I M A G I N E S T U D I O S   02:41

Antonio Conte has hailed Olivier Giroud's impact after arriving at Chelsea from Arsenal in January, but insisted the French striker has not superseded club-record signing Alvaro Morata after both players scored in the FA Cup semi-final win over Southampton. Giroud was bought to help fill the void left by the departure of Diego Costa for Atletico Madrid, and started ahead of Morata in the last-four clash with the Saints at Wembley on Sunday. The former Montpellier frontman gave Chelsea the lead in the 46th minute and substitute Morata made sure of the Blues' place in the final by doubling their advantage just two minutes after coming on.

Conte acknowledged the importance of acquiring a player with Giroud's skillset to implement his preferred tactics. "I think, for sure, it has been a good signing for us," the Italian said. "As you know very well, I needed a player with this characteristic; strong physically, to hold the ball up and allow our number 10 to make combinations with him.

"Morata is an important striker. I think he's younger than Olivier. He has less experience. He is less strong physically but, at the same time, is very fast to act on the space. "I'm pleased for both… because in the last game against Burnley we started the game with both players and they showed a great link-up. I'm very pleased to see that, because I have another option now. Another card in my hand during the game.

"Today I decided to start with Olivier because I knew we had to play against the three central defenders, very strong physically, so I decided to start with Olivier. "But when Morata came on, the impact was impressive. In the same way as Pedro's impact, which was important. And also [Tiemoue] Bakayoko."

While Chelsea have reached an FA Cup final against Manchester United, they are a distant fifth in the Premier League table, having failed to mount an effective defence of their title.

And Conte, who has regularly hinted at his dissatisfaction with Chelsea's off-season recruitment, offered a cautious assessment of the team's efforts this term.

"I think that… we are working very hard with the staff, with the players," he said.

"As you know very well, it's not simple to play in this league because I think this is the only league where six teams fight to win the title and find a place in the Champions League. Not simple. "It will be more difficult year by year. You must know this. "If you do know this, you must prepare a season in a strong way. "You have to know you must be competitive if you want to play for the title, if you want to play for something important."

Gary Cahill ready to prove himself all over again for Chelsea and England

Gary Cahill ready to prove himself all over again for Chelsea and England

Top players I M A G I N E S T U D I O S   03:55

copyright  Premier League

Gary Cahill feels like he has been seeing red since the beginning of the season, however is resolved to end the battle on a high for club and nation.

From the minute Cahill was sent off after only 14 minutes on the opening day against Burnley, who Chelsea confront again at Turf Moor this evening, very little has gone appropriate for the club's skipper.

Chelsea have been a sad remnant of the side that won the Premier League title last May and mentor Antonio Conte has progressively let him well enough alone for the side.

The 32-year-old needed to watch from the sidelines as the Blues were beaten by Arsenal in the EFL Cup semi-last, thumped out of the Champions League by Barcelona and lost their 28-year unbeaten home record to Spurs.

For a man who has won six noteworthy trophies in the same number of years at Stamford Bridge, it has been the most grounded trial of his psychological determination.

He disclosed to Standard Sport: "For me, it's been intense. It has been hard sitting out enormous diversions, watching us fall by the wayside and not having the capacity to hugy affect that.

"Individuals can contend that as a skipper you can even now have an effect in the changing area however it's troublesome when you're not playing in those defining moments. We have slipped out of the Champions League and are currently in fifth position in the table, with the goal that's baffling."

He included: "I would prefer not to state it has been an astonishment to be forgotten; it was all the more baffling.

"I couldn't care less what anybody says in regards to frame, in specific snapshots of the season and in certain defining moments, I could complete tomorrow and be glad for what I've done previously.

"I have substantiated myself throughout the years. Almost certainly, the most recent couple of months have been difficult to take. I have never missed that numerous defining moments on the bob since I've been here. In any case, clearly the group is the most imperative thing."

Cahill's absence of Chelsea diversions has additionally put his place in England's World Cup squad in danger. Britain mentor Gareth Southgate didn't choose him for the friendlies against Netherlands and Italy a month ago.

A little more than a year back, he was captain of the national side against Germany. Presently he faces a fight to add to his 58 tops."

"Obviously I need to go to the World Cup in the late spring," he demanded. "I have played in for all intents and purposes each qualifying diversion so if I somehow happened to pass up a great opportunity at the last obstacle, it would disillusion."

Despite the fact that there is only a month of the local season left, time is still on his side to turn things around.

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I M A G I N E S T U D I O S   06:29

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Chelsea Marcos Alonso Charged with violent Conduct

Chelsea Marcos Alonso Charged with violent Conduct

Top players I M A G I N E S T U D I O S   06:26

Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso has been charged with violent conduct following an incident with Southamton`s Shane Long has the football association has announced.

Saints manager mark hughes accused alonso of almost breaking Long's leg in the challenge, which happened in the 43rd minute of Chelsea's 3-2 victory at St, Mary's Stadium on Saturday.

Referee MIke Dean however did not book Alonso for the incident, which happened directly in front of 4th Official Roger East.

Alonso is facing a three-match ban that would rule him out of Sunday's FA Seni-final with the Saints , Burnley and Swansea.

Morata wants 'unstoppable' Isco to follow him from Real Madrid to Chelsea

Morata wants 'unstoppable' Isco to follow him from Real Madrid to Chelsea

Unknown   23:41

The Spanish striker completed a transfer over the summed and admits that an in-form international team-mate would also be welcome at Stamford Bridge. But I think that right now Isco has one of the most important roles at Real. In the national team he is also key. Isco is the most important player at Real and in the national team. He changes the games, he makes the difference.“ [Cadena Ser]

Unknown   23:51

Chelsea have responded firmly to Diego Costa claims of maltreatment, demanding the striker return to training and get himself fit for first-team selection.

The Premier League champions have been forced to respond after Costa gave an interview from his home in Brazil where he claimed that Chelsea had treated him “like a criminal” over his desire to leave the club this summer.

It is understood Chelsea have made four demands of the player if he is to restore relations that have been badly soured even before this weekend’s interview.

The first is straightforward, that he should return to the club. The second is that he should report for training, the third that he get match fit and the fourth, and most surprising, that he put himself into contention for first-team selection.

The 28-year-old has been in dispute with Chelsea’s coach, Antonio Conte, since the turn of the year when the Brazilian-born Spain international was upbraided for a row with the fitness coach Julio Tous. After a disappointing second half to last season, Conte told the player he was surplus to requirements by text message, the contents of which Costa then made public.

Unhappy Morata Writes To Former Team-mate

Unhappy Morata Writes To Former Team-mate

Unknown   23:45

Alvaro Morata has advised some former Real Madrid team-mates against leaving the Bernabeu, claiming the grass is not greener.

Alvaro Morata 21 is feeling the heat and confessed to his former Real Madrid team-mates via Whatsapp that he isn’t too happy.

Things will get better 😊@Alvaro Morata