Chelsea’s Italian head coach Antonio Conte gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Chelsea at The London Stadium, in east London on December 9, 2017. Ian KINGTON / AFP
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte declared his side’s Premier League title defence over after Marko Arnautovic’s goal condemned the champions to a 1-0 defeat at West Ham United on Saturday.
Chelsea’s defeat, their first in eight league games, left them 11 points adrift of leaders Manchester City, who visit second-placed Manchester United in Sunday’s Manchester derby.
“We have to consider that this is the fourth game we’ve lost in 16 games,” Conte told Sky Sports at the London Stadium.
“In my previous experience, it won’t be possible to fight for the title. With four defeats in 16 games, we must have another target.”
Elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur ended a run of four games without victory with a thumping 5-1 home win over Stoke City at Wembley in which Harry Kane scored twice.
Conte Declares Chelsea’s Title Defence Over
