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Apr 28, 2018 at 5.30pm UK
 
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Antonio Conte happy to put pressure on Tottenham Hotspur

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte admits that his side's failure "to kill the game" against Swansea City very nearly came back to haunt them.

Antonio Conte has criticised his Chelsea players for failing to take their chances against Swansea City, but admits that picking up a 1-0 win is all that matters.

The Blues dominated first-half proceedings in South Wales and took a deserved lead into the break through Cesc Fabregas's fourth-minute curler, which they were unable to add to.

Swansea almost capitalised on Chelsea's profligacy with a couple of late chances, though in the end Fabregas's first league goal since August proved the difference between the sides.

After closing to within two points of Tottenham Hotspur, who play their game in hand at home to Watford on Monday, Conte is glad to have turned up the heat on the Lilywhites in the race for a top-four finish.

"We started the game very well and dominated the game in the first half. But you must be very good to kill the game and you have to take the chances otherwise you risk your opponent trying to push," he told BBC Sport. "We were very good defensively and it's important for us to take three points with a good win.

"Now we have three games to go and have to win for our fans, for our work and then we'll see what happens. The big problem that we are having this season in many games is that we create many chances to score but we don't take them.

"If we want to fight for something important you must be clinical. If you don't kill the game then it's normal for the other team to push. Our expectation was to play a tough game against a good team looking to avoid relegation.

"They only way that we have to put a bit of pressure on the top four is to win. Today has been very positive to put that pressure on Tottenham. Football is not simple and anything can happen."

Chelsea return to action next weekend with a home match against third-placed Liverpool.

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A frustrated Cesc Fabregas during the Premier League game between Chelsea and Southampton on December 16, 2017
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2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
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18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256


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