Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has described Middlesbrough as a difficult team ahead of their Monday night Premier League meeting at Stamford Bridge, reports Completesportsnigeria.com.
Chelsea’s lead at the top of the table could be cut to just one point if Tottenham Hotspur defeat West Ham United on Friday away at the London Olympic Stadium. Spurs sit second in the table with 77 points, four points adrift of Chelsea.
“We must play a great game and try to take three points,” Conte said during his pre-match press conference on Friday. “With only four games to go it’s important to win. It won’t be easy.
“Our plan is to continue to work very hard and prepare for the final four games and then the FA Cup final.
“Pressure at this stage of the season is normal. You must cope with this. Everyone at the club has experience to face it. Middlesbrough have to win, and for us it’s the same.
Conte also revealed that his team are struggling with the fitness of two key players.
“This week we are struggling with two situations, about David Luiz and N’Golo,” Conte added.
Conte revealed that Thibault Courtois is fit and has trained.
“I have my wife and daughter and it is a chance to have a dinner together in London,” the Italian said when asked if he’d watch Tottenham against West Ham.
Speaking about the transfer speculaltion surrounding striker Diego Costa with a reported big money move to China, Conte said: “I don’t know about this, I have not discussed the future with Costa.
“It is important for every single player and person to work for Chelsea, to focus on the present, it is important for us, more important than the future. We have to be focused and concentrated to prepare in the right way for these games from now until the end.”
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