Chelsea should focus on Man Utd: Conte

Chelsea chief coach Antonio Conte said his side has to be focused on decreasing the points gap with Manchester United rather than competing with table toppers Manchester City in the English Premier League (EPL).

Chelsea have accumulated 26 points from 13 points while Manchester City top the chart with 37. Manchester United have 32 points from 14 EPL fixtures.

"Now our target must be to see the team that is before us. In this case, Manchester United," the Italian was quoted as saying by the Independent.

"Our first target is to catch them up and if we are able to do this and then we can see the team who is staying before us. This must be our mentality and in every game we have to try to win and do our best. This must be the right mentality, winning mentality.

"If you leave Man City out of the table, there is United and we are three points behind. Man City is doing something incredible until now but we have to trust to continue to improve in our work in our team and try to do our best. This is the right way," Conte added.

The 48-year-old also said the EPL defending champions were under more pressure in the ongoing season in comparison to the previous.

"Last season we started without this pressure but I want to tell you the pressure is very important," said Conte, who helped Chelsea win the EPL title in his debut season as a coach.

"If there is no pressure, I put pressure on myself, the players, the club because it is right to have pressure if you want to create something important for the present and the future," Conte added.

--IANS

sam/mr