Chelsea face Swansea City at Liberty Stadium this Saturday and the clash will be crucial in terms of determining our fate for the season. If we are to fight for a top-four finish, it is imperative that we secure a win this weekend.
Antonio Conte insisted on putting up a strong challenge for a top-four spot, which makes it crucial for us to walk away with nothing less than a win against Swansea.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference as reported by Chelsea’s official website, Conte said:
“First of all we have to try to get three points. We are playing against a team fighting to avoid relegation. In the last five games at home, Swansea have won four and drawn once. It means they are in good form.
“If we want to continue to have hope of taking a Champions League place, we need to get three points and try to put a bit on pressure on the teams who are ahead of us.”
Since Carlos Carvalhal arrival at the club, Swansea have sparked a late turnaround in their fortunes. From being at the bottom of the table, the Wales-based outfit have managed to climb out of relegation danger for now.
A win is necessary for them to secure their top-flight status and that certainly won’t make our work any easier. Conte also admitted that London rivals Tottenham Hotspur have a greater advantage as far as points are concerned but he went on to stress the magnitude of Saturday’s game.
We are currently 5 points behind fourth-placed Spurs and to catch them, a win will definitely prove to be beneficial this weekend.
However, failure to do so will result in us missing out on a Champions League qualification spot. Our season has been rather miserable so far but we have a chance to win the FA Cup. Regardless of how that turns out, our focus must not waver from securing a top-four finish.
