CHELSEA OUT OF TITLE RACE - CONTE

CHELSEA COACH ANTONIO CONTE SAID HIS SIDEWERE NO LONGER IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE RACE AFTER THEY LOST 1-0 TO WEST HAM UNITED.

 

It leaves the champions 11 points adrift of runaway leaders Manchester City who play on Sunday.

 

Marko Arnautovic scored his first goal since he joined West Ham in July after swapping passes with Manuel Lanzini on the edge of the Chelsea penalty area and curling a low shot beyond Thibaut Courtois in the sixth minute of the London derby.

 

Conte brought on the attack-minded Pedro, Victor Moses and Willian as second-half substitutes but Chelsea failed to break down a West Ham defence that looks much sturdier under new manager David Moyes.

 

"To lose four games in 16 games, it means you are not in the title race," Conte said. "My experience of this is if you want to stay in the race for the title, in the first part of the season you can lose once or twice."

 

Particularly galling for Conte was the fact that three of the four defeats have come against clubs which would normally be considered relatively easy opposition for Chelsea -- Burnley on the opening day of the season, Crystal Palace and now West Ham.

 

Chelsea also lost at home to Manchester City, who visit Manchester United on Sunday.

 

Published: 10/12/2017 by Radio NewsHub