Skip to main content

Conte laments tight turnaround for City clash

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte blasted Premier League schedulers over his side's short turnaround from Champions League action before facing high-flying Manchester City in a top-of-the-table clash on Saturday.

Conte's men put in a brilliant performance to inflict only Atletico Madrid's second Champions League defeat on home soil in 24 games on Wednesday, when Michy Batshuayi's 93rd-minute winner sealed a 2-1 victory.

However, the Italian lamented the advantage handed to City, who played their Champions League fixture at home to Shakhtar Donetsk 24 hours earlier on Tuesday.

"I think we are a bit penalised and in this case, it is very important to analyse, before taking these decisions, the different situations of the team," said Conte.

"City played yesterday at home. We played tonight away and we will return to London around four o'clock (in the morning)."

City lead the Premier League from Manchester United on goal difference, with Chelsea three points back in third.

"Man City is a really strong team. They are scoring a lot of goals, they are in a good moment of form and we have to prepare well (for) this game because it is very important.

"Before taking this decision someone must analyse very well this situation.

"There is the international break (after this weekend). My surprise is for this because there is the time (to play the game later)."

Conte was far more content with Chelsea's display as they battled back to claim a well-deserved three points despite falling behind to Antoine Griezmann's penalty five minutes before halftime.

Former Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata stretched his scoring streak to seven goals in as many games with a deft near-post header from the outstanding Eden Hazard's cross to level on the hour mark.

'WE KEPT OUR HEAD'

Morata and Cesc Fabregas then passed up huge chances before Batshuayi struck the decisive blow with the last kick of the game after a patient team move tore a tiring Atletico to shreds.

"It is very difficult when Atletico Madrid score to come back, but despite this we deserved to win because we continued to play with good personality," added Conte.

"We kept our head on the pitch. We deserved to win against a really good team like Atletico Madrid."

Batshuayi was the unlikely hero as he came off the bench just eight minutes from time to net already his fifth goal of the season despite playing second fiddle to Morata.

"To score for a striker is always important for your confidence but it is more important they understand this way to play is right," said Conte.

"I want this type of player with great athleticism and to give me the possibility to make a change game-by-game."

In stark contrast to Chelsea's euphoria, defeat leaves Atletico, who have reached the Champions League final in two of the previous four seasons, struggling to make it out of Group C.

The Spaniards trail second-placed Roma by three points following their 2-1 win at Azerbaijani champions Qarabag earlier on Wednesday.

"They were better in every aspect of the game," admitted Griezmann. "We have a lot more games to play and we have to try to win them all.

"Maybe I needed to play better too. Apart from the goal it wasn't a good day for me. I have to learn from today and keep working."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Vulvar Care Tips

Vulva Care Maintaining a healthy vulva and vagina will help prevent infections and discomfort. Unusual changes in vaginal discharge is a sign that there might be an issue. Why is vulvar and vagina care important? Many women experience uncomfortable, vaginal infections (vaginitis) at one time or another. The area around the entrance to the vagina (vulva) can also become irritated. Steps can be taken to relieve and prevent vulvar discomfort and vaginal infections. Not all vaginal infections are alike and home treatments can worsen some types. If you have any concerns about your vulvar or vaginal health, or notice unusual changes in vaginal discharge, contact your healthcare provider if the problem persists. What is the vulva? The vulva is the area of female sex organs that lies outside of the vagina. These organs include folds of sensitive tissue called the labia (labia means "lips"). The labia has two parts. The outermost folds are called the labia majora. A secon...
Post a Comment
Read more

Chechnya leader makes Mo Salah honorary citizen

Chechnya leader Ramzan Kadyrov has made Egypt’s talismanic striker Mohamed Salah an honorary citizen of the southern Russian region at a farewell banquet held for the eliminated World Cup side. Rights groups and Western governments allege that authorities in Chechnya repress their political opponents, discriminate against women and persecute sexual minorities, all allegations that Chechnya’s leaders deny. Chechnya has been hosting the Egyptian team’s World Cup training camp and Kremlin-backed Kadyrov has seized on opportunities to appear alongside Salah. Sarah’s goalscoring exploits for Liverpool and Egypt have made him an international superstar. “Mohamed Salah is an honorary citizen of the Chechen Republic. “Yes, that’s right! Tonight I signed a decree conferring this high award on the great footballer and member of the Egypt and Liverpool teams,” Kadyrov wrote on Telegram. Salah was presented with a badge and a copy of the decree at the dinner, Kadyrov said. The Egy...
Post a Comment
Read more

Oil prices rise amidst uncertainty over Libyan crude exports

Oil prices rose, Tuesday on uncertainty over Libyan oil exports, although plans by producer cartel OPEC to raise output loom. Brent sweet crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, were at 74.95 dollars per barrel at 01.04 GMT, up 22 cents, or 0.3 per cent from their last close. The United States West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at 68.33 dollars a barrel, up 25 cents, or 0.4 per cent. Traders said prices were mostly driven higher by uncertainty around oil exports by Libya, a member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Eastern Libyan commander, Khalifa Haftar’s forces have handed control of oil ports to a separate National Oil Corporation (NOC) based in the East of the country. The official state-owned oil company based in the capital Tripoli, also called NOC, will not be allowed to handle that oil anymore, he said. In comments later confirmed to the media, Ahmed Mismari, spokesman of Haftar’s Libya National Army...
Post a Comment
Read more