Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has admitted that it will be “impossible” for his side to defend their Premier League title this season after they slumped to a 1-0 defeat against West Ham on Saturday.
“To talk about the title race after a defeat I think is a bit strange,” Conte told reporters in his post-match news conference.
“Especially as this is the fourth defeat this season in 16 games. When you have this task, it is impossible to think that you are in the title race.
“It is impossible. My experience is this, if you want to stay in the race for the title, in the first part of the season you can lose once, twice.”
A goal from Marko Arnautovic gave David Moyes side the lead within the first six minutes that that strike proved to be the only goal of the game.
The result leaves the Blues 11 points adrift of runaway League leaders Manchester City and this figure could be increased after the Manchester derby on Sunday.
Conte’s men now may as well turn their focus onto finishing as high as possible in the League and on trying to achieve success in the Cups.
