Chelsea beat Atlético Madrid 2-1 in the Champions League, with Michy Batshuayi scoring the winner with the last kick of the game
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Chelsea became the first English team to win at the Spanish club courtesy of
the substitute Michy Batshuayi’s stoppage‑time goal, with the result
strengthening the Premier League side’s position at the top of the
fledgling Group C. Yet, rather than basking in the success, Conte
instead made clear his frustration at the scheduling of the visit of
City, the early leaders, on Saturday teatime for the televised fixture
and expressed disbelief that the option to play on Sunday had not been
explored given next week is an international window.
“Now,
for us, it’s important to rest and try and recover very well but we
don’t have a lot of time,” he said. “Honestly, in this case we are a bit
penalised and I think it’s very important before taking a decision like
this to analyse the different situations of the teams. Don’t forget,
Manchester City played yesterday at home [against Shakhtar Donetsk].
We played tonight, away. For sure, we will return to London around 4am.
To have only one day to prepare for this type of game is not right.
Above all because, now, it’s an international break. There aren’t other
fixtures. Honestly, I’m very surprised to see that this game we have to
play on Saturday, not on Sunday. I don’t understand why. Honestly, it’s
very tough to know [who will have recovered in time]. For sure, after
this type of performance … I want to wait. Don’t forget: Saturday is a
big game. To play a big game is better because we can keep that
concentration very high. But I want to wait and check.
Manchester City face a serious blow as fears grow at the club that Benjamin Mendy faces a lengthy absence due to a knee injury
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“Maybe
I’ll wait until the end, one or two hours before we play. I need to
speak to my players to understand very well their physical condition. In
this type of game you lose a lot of physical and mental energy. For
this reason, I want to speak with everyone and then make the best
decision.”
Conte
heaped praise on his players’ performance at the Wanda Metropolitano
where Álvaro Morata, who limped away from the arena with a slight knock,
scored his seventh goal in as many games for his new club, Eden Hazard
was outstanding and Batshuayi secured the late win the visitors
deserved.
“They
deserved to play this type of game, but above all to play in this way:
with personality,” Conte said. “You can win, but if you win only by
defending and go on the counterattack, I think the result doesn’t bring
the right satisfaction. Instead, to come here and show we are ready to
play, and that we want to understand where we are, that’s very
important. The answer tonight was very positive.”
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