Chelsa ‘lost confidence’, Conte admits

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Chelsea boss Antonio Conte blamed Chelsea’s wayward finishing and a lack of confidence after a first home defeat against Tottenham in 28 years saw them slip to eight points off the Champions League qualification places.

The Blues had the better of the first half and led through Alvaro Morata’s header.

But a superb Christian Eriksen strike in first-half injury-time drew Spurs level and Dele Alli’s second-half double earned the visitors a first win at Stamford Bridge in 28 years.

“The performance has been good – especially in the first half,” insisted Conte.

“We played good football. We scored only one goal but I think we deserved to be 2-0 or 3-0.

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“Instead we conceded a goal in the last minute of the first half and this goal gave us a bit of a problem in our mind and we lost confidence.

“Despite this, in the second half, we started the game very well.”

But defensive lapses contributed to both of Alli’s goals, with Andreas Christensen, Willy Caballero and Cesar Azpilicueta all playing their part.

“We conceded a goal that you can avoid,” Conte admitted.

“That was a freak goal, I think we made a mistake for the second and third goal. For the third goal you have to kick this ball in the stand and not concede.”