CHELSEA MANAGER ANTONIO Conte cut a frustrated figure after his side’s 1-1 draw with West Ham on Sunday and believes the game was a microcosm of their season.
The Blues dominated their opponents from start to finish and only wasteful finishing and superb goalkeeping by Joe Hart prevented them from adding to Cesar Azpilicueta’s first-half opener.
Their failure to make their dominance count was punished 17 minutes from time when Javier Hernandez fired home just four minutes after coming off the bench.
Conte was at a loss to explain how his side failed to take all three points, but did seem to question his players’ desire to capitalise on their complete control.
“It is very difficult to explain it,” he told Sky Sports.
“We dominated the game and created many, many chances to score but we didn’t and that explains our season.
“We have had good performances all season but you have to score. This is not the first time and we have to improve a lot. When you stay in this position in the table it means that you have a problem.
“We have to improve, we must win this game. Instead we are talking about a draw.
“You need the desire to score a second goal, a third, a fourth.”
Antonio Rudiger was equally frustrated with his side’s inability to hold onto their lead and questioned why it has become a recurring theme of their season.
He added: “I think we begged for the goal, and in the second half, or even in the first half we could have finished the game, but like the last few months we couldn’t, and we conceded at the end.
“It’s not easy to explain, I don’t understand after we go 1-0 up why we always drop off and let our opponents come onto us.
“We could have done better, of course, we gave them a gift, it was the first clear chance they had and they scored.”
Don’t go there kid.. Go somewhere where you’ll be appreciated and where you’ll only get better
@Chonky Racoon: spot on I know it’s hard to say no to these huge clubs but better for your future if you went to a smaller club and got plenty of game time clubs like Dortmund or Lyon who have history of bringing players throught
There not holding back anyway
Every country has a Messi these days. Wessi was our Messi!
Is he the first Japanese man to sign for them, first Asian perhaps? Can’t think of anyone else off hand. Lá liga will be delighted either way!
@Hardly Normal: he’s signed for Castilla , it’s Real Madrid’s B team .. it’s a strategic move for Madrid , the player himself may not thrive though. A guy like Odegaard is making a name for himself in Holland but it’s unlikely he’ll ever triumph in Real Madrid . It’s surprising that he didn’t go back to Barca tbh .
@Hardly Normal: As Mr. Madrugada points out, Kubo is signing for Castilla, not Real Madrid (a tehnicality). But Real Madrid (including Castilla and Real Madrid C) have had at least two Asian players before. There was some fanfare a few years back when they signed Chinese Lin Liangming. There was also a Jordanian (Tha’er Bawab) who played for both Real and Barce’s B-Teams back in the early 00s.
@Limón Madrugada: do you think Odegaard will ever make it with Madrid or will just be sold on ??
@Philip Farrell: you hardly rattled that off the top of your head, if you did fair play. So no asain player has played for Real Madrid proper? I’d put money on it this lad will get an opportunity if he shows any bit of promise. The asain market is untapped from a Spanish point of view, interesting move.
@Andrew Tuite: sold on I reckon , he’s done well in Holland and Ajax are looking at him . He’d be useful as part of the deal for de Ligt !! But he needs to make a proper breakthrough for Madrid to see him as first team material.
Great news for la liga