Thursday 10 May 2018 08:03, UK
Antonio Conte believes Chelsea will "do their best" to improve over the summer, but says the club will make the "best decision" on his own future.
Huddersfield secured their Premier League status for next season and severely dented Chelsea's top-four hopes by battling to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
The result leaves Conte's men needing Brighton to beat Liverpool at Anfield on the final day for any hope of clinching Champions League football next season. Chelsea play Newcastle at St James' Park knowing only a win will do.
Conte's future has been speculated upon for some time, with reports suggesting he is unhappy with the club's transfer policy.
He remained coy when asked about his own future, insisting the club would make the big decisions over the summer in order to improve on a disappointing Premier League title defence.
Asked whether this could be his last game at Stamford Bridge, Conte said: "For this season, for sure, it is my last game here. Not only me, but the players too. I don't have anything to add. It is not my task, there is a club to judge the situation and then take the best decision.
"Now is not important - we must be focused to finish this season. We have another game and an FA Cup final - then the club will do their best to improve their situation."
Chelsea are 20 points worse off than at this stage last season when they were already champions after Conte instigated a title triumph in his first season in the job.
Conte's men have lost nine games this season - four more than in the whole of last season - and the manager thinks Chelsea would deserve to finish outside the top four, if that's where they end up.
"I'm realistic - I think at the end of the season you finish in the position you deserve," he said.
"We dropped many points this season - then if we stay fifth then we'll deserve to stay in that position."
For Huddersfield, this latest performance of grit and outstanding defensive organisation all-but relegates Swansea City, who need a 10-goal swing on the final day to turn the tables on Southampton. As a result, Conte congratulated his opposite number, David Wagner.
"We must respect Huddersfield's plan - they had one target to take one point," he said.
"They wanted to defend deep - we must give best compliments for Huddersfield for the result. We had chances but didn't score. A great congratulations to them."
