Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has acknowledged that his side are still relying on favours from elsewhere in their bid to finish in the top four of the Premier League table this season.
The 2016-17 champions kept their hopes alive with a 1-0 win over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge this afternoon, with Olivier Giroud's first-half header seeing the Blues close the gap on fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur to just two points.
Chelsea would still require either Spurs or Liverpool to drop more points during the upcoming week - while winning their final two games as well - but Conte is pleased to see his side putting the pressure on the teams above them.
"We must be pleased because the players played a really good game. Usually when you have to play a must-win game it is not easy because it is normal to be a bit nervous, and today it was a must-win game. But not with a simple opponent, against Liverpool - a team that has just reached the final of the Champions League," he told reporters at his post-match press conference.
"They are very dangerous with these three strikers, and it is impressive the way they attack the goal. The way they defend the ball, the way they have the combination between them. I think today we must be pleased because we showed great will to keep our hopes alive for a place in the Champions League. I don't know if this will be enough at the end of the season to reach a place in the Champions League, but he have to try.
"Now we have to prepare in the right way for the match on Wednesday against Huddersfield, another tough game against an opponent who are playing to avoid relegation. Today they drew against [Man] City. I will try to get three points. I will probably make adaptations on Wednesday because today we spent a lot of energy, and we will see what happens. It is important to face the situation with great pride and the will to fight to show that we are still alive.
"One month ago it was impossible to imagine fighting for a place in the Champions League. Now there is the hope because we are getting three points every game and our opponents are dropping points. Our future is not in our hands, but we have to try to get three points and to put pressure on. For sure we are putting pressure on the teams ahead of us."
Chelsea's final two games of the Premier League season come away to Huddersfield and Newcastle United.
Barney Corkhill
