In spite of a difficult season we are still alive – Conte

Joe Williams

Antonio Conte is happy that Chelsea are still “fighting until the end” after a difficult season for last season’s champions.

Olivier Giroud scored the only goal of the game as the Blues beat Liverpool 1-0 in the Premier League on Sunday and moved to within three points of their top-four rivals with a game in hand.

“Today was a must-win game against a really good team, but it was a good game and a great show of will to keep our hope of finishing in the top four alive,” Conte said.

“I’m very happy for the players and the fans, they deserve this type of game and this win.

“Liverpool is a team who are very dangerous and if you leave a lot of space behind the defensive line their players are impressive the way they attack the space, but also playing through the lines and in their combinations. They are a very good team so it’s right to give them compliments.”

Girous won the match for the Blues and Conte was quick to praise the Frenchman, he said: “He brought a personality, he’s an international player with a lot of experience and we needed this kind of player.

“Today he played a very good game and worked very hard without the ball, but I am pleased for the whole performance of the whole team.”

On possibility of finishing in the top four, Conte added: “As I said previously our target is to finish the season in the best possible way and to give the best satisfaction to all the fans. I think in spite of the difficult season we are still alive and are fighting until the end.

“In this league it’s very tough and in the past, in the present and in the future, and it could be even more difficult in the future. You start the season with the six top teams and anything can happen. We have to prepare in the right way and try to make as few mistakes as possible.”