Friday 20 April 2018 08:50, UK
Antonio Conte has challenged Chelsea to finish the season as strong as possible after remaining in the hunt for the top four with victory at Burnley.
Chelsea's 2-1 victory at Turf Moor moved them to within five points of fourth-placed Tottenham with four games to play and built confidence ahead of Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Southampton.
"We played a really important game," Conte told Sky Sports. "It's not simple to play against Burnley this season but we put pressure on every moment of the game with our strikers.
"I am very pleased to see this performance but for the whole team. We showed great spirit and great enthusiasm, Burnley are having a fantastic season.
"To come here and win this way, without conceding chances is good. We have to continue in this way and try to finish the season as strong as possible.
"We have to continue to work, to do our job and then at the end of the season the club has to make the right decision and consideration.
"We must be focused - me, my players, my staff - to get the best possible finish and to continue like today.
"Now we have to recover our energy for Wembley and try to reach the final."
Alvaro Morata missed a gilt-edged chance on the hour to double Chelsea's lead, and cut a frustrated figure when he was substituted soon after.
But Conte singled out the Spaniard and his strike partner Olivier Giroud, who started together for the first time, for praise after they set the tone of Chelsea's performance.
"Morata played a good game, he showed great commitment," he added.
"When you miss this kind of chance you must be angry with yourself and also for the team because if we went 2-0 up it would have been more simple until the end.
"I'm very pleased with performance of our strikers, with and without the ball. With the ball they showed great links and combinations.
"Tonight it was the first time I tried this solution because in the past, for many reasons, it wasn't possible. But tonight they showed a great link, they did a fantastic job with and without the ball.
"For the future it could be a good solution, another option, not only to play with a No 10 but also with the two strikers and three midfielders.
"I'm very pleased with Morata and Giroud, in the future they deserve the chance to play with two strikers."
