Conte aims a dig at Mourinho as FA Cup final clash looms

Antonio Conte has aimed a dig at Jose Mourinho as Chelsea look all set to finish outside of the Premier League’s top four.

The Blues need to win their final game at Newcastle and hope Liverpool lose to home to Brighton, otherwise Conte’s charges will finish outside of the Champions League places.

But the Italian, whose men face Mourinho’s Manchester United in the FA Cup final next Saturday, issued a reminder that when Mourinho left Chelsea in December 2015 the Blues finished 10th in the Premier League.

Conte, speaking before what could be his last Premier League game with Chelsea, said: “You must know that there is this possibility, because you play in a strong league.

“For this reason, you have to know this and prepare in the right way. There are six top teams at the start of the season ready to fight for a place in the Champions League.

“It can happen. In the past, it happened the same. Don’t forget two years ago, Chelsea ended the season 10th and not in the FA Cup final, not in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, and they were eliminated in the last 16 against PSG in the Champions League.

“It can happen. Last season, after a 10th place, we won the league. It was difficult. We worked very hard, but we won. After a 10th place finish.

“Now, probably, you can finish fifth and start with a bit of an advantage compared to when you finish 10th.”

Asked if he thought Chelsea had avoided “the Mourinho season”, he replied: “This is not my task to tell this. I’m the last person to judge my work.

“My task is to work, to do my job in the best possible way with these players for the fans.”

Conte and Mourinho have history and in January Conte called the Manchester United boss a “little man” and “fake” before issuing an apparent challenge.