CHELSEA – Caballero; Azpilicueta, Cahill (c), Rudiger; Moses, Kante, Fabregas, Emerson; Willian, Giroud, Hazard.
Subs: Eduardo, Christensen, Zappacosta, Bakayoko, Barkley, Pedro, Morata.
Manager: Antonio Conte
SOUTHAMPTON – McCarthy, Cédric, Hoedt, Yoshida, Bednarek, Bertrand (c), Romeu, Højbjerg, Lemina, Austin, Long.
Subs: Forster, McQueen, Tadić, Redmond, Ward-Prowse, Gabbiadini, Carrillo.
Manager: Mark Hughes
Venue: Wembley Stadium
Kick-off: 3PM BST
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois earned his 150th appearance for the Blues in the 1-2 win against Burnley at Turf Moor. The Belgian international failed to celebrate the occasion with a clean sheet as Burnley scored at 64′ with Ashley Barnes.
Chelsea loanee Kenedy, who’s enjoying a fruitful spell at Newcastle United, has confirmed he would be open to discuss a permanent move with Magpies at the end of current Premier League season.
The Brazilian winger told The Daily Mail: “I am enjoying my time at Newcastle, but obviously I have a contract at Chelsea. If something occurs then I will be more than happy, it is a good place for me. I like it”.
“Rafa helps me a lot, every day. But the thing I am most thankful for is that he had belief in me and gave me this chance. I never imagined it would have gone so well. They have amazing fans, they are crazy for the team — fanatical, beautiful, I feel privileged to be around them.
“My first goal was an amazing sensation. When I saw the celebration in the stand, that gives you the energy to do whatever it takes.”
Arsene Wenger will leave his managerial role at Arsenal when the 2017/18 campaign comes to an end, the Frenchman has announced through an official statement this morning.
We read: “After careful consideration and following discussions with the club, I feel it is the right time for me to step down at the end of the season. I am grateful for having had the privilege to serve the club for so many memorable years.
“I managed the club with full commitment and integrity. I want to thank the staff, the players, the Directors and the fans who make this club so special.
“I urge our fans to stand behind the team to finish on a high. To all the Arsenal lovers take care of the values of the club. My love and support for ever.”
More from Antonio Conte. The Blues’ manager confirmed Chelsea must win every single game remaining to keep their Champions League hopes alive, as gap on Tottenham has been reduced again. The Spurs are 5 points above ahead of their home clash against Watford, while Chelsea will visit Swansea City in Premier League next week.
Conte said: “It won’t be easy. There is a gap of five points with Tottenham. If we think in the past we have missed great chances to stay closer to them. Now the only way that we have is to get three points every game. It won’t be easy, because we have to play against teams fighting away from the relegation zone”.
“We have to try and for sure tonight I saw a great team spirit, we must be pleased because we performed very well with a great desire and will to fight”.
When asked if Alvaro Morata‘s mistakes from a close range in the game against Burnley influenced his decision to take the Spaniard off with 20 minutes left to go, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte stand firm to back the striker.
The Italian manager said: “No, no, no. Honestly. Around 70 minutes I thought that it was better to put fresh strength with Hazard. He is a player that has different characteristics to Morata. But I must be honest I am very pleased for Morata and Giroud’s performances, they played very well.”
“To see Giroud and Morata, to play in this way and see good combination and link with them and then the desire to run and press with and without the ball, this is the right way to have satisfaction in the future.”
When asked about Morata’s reaction on the bench, he added: “I am not angry at him, Alvaro must be angry, because when you have the chance to score you have to score, especially for a striker because it can change your confidence. I think he was very angry with himself for his missed chance. But I have to see his whole performance and also even if he didn’t score I was very happy”.
“It was a situation I had in my mind and it wasn’t possible in the past to play with two strikers. They played very well and did a great job, as did the whole team. It is not simple to see two strikers and we must be pleased to see them sacrifice without the ball.”
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has confirmed his choice to play with both Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata, who was replaced by Eden Hazard later in the second half, could be proposed again as the run for a Champions League spot goes on.
The Italian boss told journalists: “This could be an option, a possibility for Sunday or the future. This was the first time we try this solution with two strikers and we had great responses about them. For sure in the future it could be an option, a good option”.
“When you have players to show you the desire and will to sacrifice for the team without the ball it is great. We surprised Burnley with two strikers.”
When asked if Morata’s mistakes from a close range influenced his decision to take him off with 20 minutes left to go, Conte added: “No, no, no. Honestly. Around 70 minutes I thought that it was better to put fresh strength with Hazard. He is a player that has different characteristics to Morata. But I must be honest I am very pleased for Morata and Giroud’s performances, they played very well.”
“To see Giroud and Morata, to play in this way and see good combination and link with them and then the desire to run and press with and without the ball, this is the right way to have satisfaction in the future.”
When asked about Morata’s reaction on the bench, he added: “I am not angry at him, Alvaro must be angry, because when you have the chance to score you have to score, especially for a striker because it can change your confidence. I think he was very angry with himself for his missed chance. But I have to see his whole performance and also even if he didn’t score I was very happy”.
“It was a situation I had in my mind and it wasn’t possible in the past to play with two strikers. They played very well and did a great job, as did the whole team. It is not simple to see two strikers and we must be pleased to see them sacrifice without the ball.”
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte was full of praise when asked if he enjoyed his team’s performance against Burnley at Turf Moor tonight.
The Italian manager said: “For sure today we showed a great spirit, we didn’t show that in the first half against Southampton because we played badly, we were a disaster. But in the second half today we must be pleased and it is a great pleasure to see my players with a great commitment and desire on the ball.”
Tottenham Hotspur remain in 4th place but Chelsea managed to reduce their gap on Spurs, who are now just 5 points above the Blues.
Conte added: “For sure we dropped many points in the last period. I can remember the game against West Ham for example we dropped two points in an incredible way, we lost a game at home against Tottenham. We scored the first goal. We have dropped a lot of points and now it is difficult”.
On Morata and Giroud playing together, he ended: “To see Giroud and Morata, to play in this way and see good combination and link with them and then the desire to run and press with and without the ball, this is the right way to have satisfaction in the future.”
Chelsea can still hope to qualify for the next Champions League after they beat Burnley tonight at Turf Moor.
After finishing the first half up 1-0 thanks to Long’s own goal, the Blues, in the second half, failed a great chance with Alvaro Morata and few minutes later conceded the draw: shot by Gudmunsson deflected by Barnes and no chance for Courtois to make the save.
However, Antonio Conte‘s side found the winning goal with Victor Moses and got three crucial points in their run to finish in the Premier League top four.
Chelsea are 1-0 up at Turf Moor in tonight’s Premier League game vs Burnley at half time.
Antonio Conte‘s side scored with an own goal by Kevin Long after a cross from provided by Victor Moses.
Also Morata had two good chances to score, but Pope made two saves on the Spanish striker.
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