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Antonio Conte concedes it’s ‘impossible’ for Chelsea to win Premier League now

The defending champions trail leaders Manchester City by a mammoth 11 points!

Antonio Conte concedes it’s ‘impossible’ for Chelsea to win Premier League now

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte (Photo: AFP)

Chelsea on Sunday slipped to their fourth Premier League defeat of the season and Blues manager Antonio Conte admitted that their title hopes were all but over with leaders Manchester City 11 points ahead after having played a game less.

“To speak about the title race after a defeat is a bit strange, especially if this is the fourth defeat of the season, after 16 games,” the Italian stated at the post-match press conference as he added, “When you have that it’s impossible to think you are in the race, my experience tells me if you want to stay in the race in the first part of the season you can lose once or twice.”

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Marko Arnautovic gave the hosts a shock lead in the 6th minute and while Chelsea dominated large swathes of the tie from thereon, they were unable to find the back of the net. 

West Ham keeper Adrian was in superb form but the uncharacteristic profligacy of star duo Alvaro Morata and Eden Hazard proved to be their bane as the Blues slumped to their second away loss of the season.

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“After 16 games, if you lose four it means you never got started. We started with a defeat at home to Burnley. We lost another game, against Man City, but we have reasons to justify that. Then when you lose to Crystal Palace, who were bottom, and West Ham, who are in a bad position, you can lose points in these games but it means you are not in the title race,” the Chelsea manager added.

Must read: Manchester United vs Manchester City: Combined XI for Manchester Derby

With second-placed Manchester United hosting leaders Manchester City in a high-stakes Manchester Derby on Sunday, the stage was set for the Blues to trim the gap on the two, but they instead fell to a shock defeat and are in danger of slipping to fourth place.

Liverpool trail Chelsea by three points and considering their superior goal differnce, will leapfrog the Blues if they win their game in hand— a Merseyside Derby clash with Everton— on Sunday.

Conte’s men will have to pick themselves up and focus on their next game, an away trip to Huddersfield on Wednesday, as they seek to salvage their season.

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