Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has revealed that his team are on the back foot before they face Liverpool in the high profile Premier League clash next weekend.
Chelsea faced West Brom at the Hawthorns this weekend and won the match comfortably 4-0. But the Blues will have to hit the road again next weekend when they travel to Anfield in order to take on an in-form Liverpool side. And Antonio Conte is not at all pleased with the scheduling of his team’s fixtures because, before the match against Liverpool, Chelsea will have to make a 5,800 mile round trip to Baku in order to face Qarabag FK in the Champions League.
And within 72 hours of wrapping up the fixture, Chelsea will have to take on Liverpool on Saturday. Liverpool, on the other hand, will make a short trip to Spain where take on Sevilla during midweek.
“For sure who prepares these fixtures must pay great attention,” Conte said after his side’s 4-0 win over West Brom.
“Don’t forget now we have another problem because we are going to play at Qarabag on Wednesday and then we go back to London at five, six o’clock, but we have another great game against Liverpool on Saturday. Is it normal, this? I don’t think.
“If someone wants more balance in this league I think they must pay greater attention before to prepare the fixtures.”
Liverpool’s game against Sevilla is scheduled for Tuesday and the Reds will return straight back to Merseyside after the match gets over. But Chelsea’s Group C match will take place on Wednesday and they will have to return back to London after the match and then within a days time, they leave for Liverpool.
Antonio Conte’s concern is surely valid but what we think what worries him the most is the fact that he will have to face a Liverpool side who are currently unbeaten in four games across all competitions.
Would Conte complain about the schedules if Liverpool were out of form? We don’t think so.
