For the second time in three seasons, Chelsea have made a pigs-ear of defending their Premier League crown.
Back in the 2015 / 2016 season, Chelsea’s defence of the title saw them finish a distant tenth in the Premier League table.
This season, Chelsea haven’t fared so badly with it looking as if fifth is the position we’re destined to finish in.
Chelsea started 2018 in second place, but a slump in form that has seen them harvest just twelve points in 2018 (so far), has seen a 10-point gap open up between ourselves and fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
Ahead of the Premier League trip to take on Southampton, at his pre-match press conference, Antonio Conte spoke about the current situation whereby our Champions League qualification hopes have been dashed.
Conte’s remarks have been captured by the Mirror and read as thus;
“If we don’t qualify for the Champions League it means that we have to divide the fault with the players.
“This is not the first time. Two years ago the same happened at Chelsea. I didn’t see many players leaving then. We made a lot of mistakes this season – me, my staff, the players and the club.
“Whether we win or lose, we must be ready to share the responsibility.”
Conte obviously feels that any blame set to be apportioned shouldn’t fall solely at his feet.
However, Conte also issued a rallying cry to his troops, further adding,
“There are six games to go and we have an FA Cup semi-final. We must finish the season as strongly as possible.”
Would it be too much to ask for Chelsea to finish the season with a flourish of victories, including one on FA Cup Final day, at Wembley?