Antonio Conte has confessed that Chelsea have blown their big chance to finish above Tottenham Hotspur in the race for a top-four finish.
The Blues were beaten 3-1 by their London rivals at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon, as they squandered a one-goal lead on home soil.
Instead of being two points behind Spurs in the final Champions League berth, Chelsea are now eight points adrift and have just seven games remaining to reduce the deficit.
Conte is refusing to give up hope of catching Tottenham, though, and insists that this season was never going to be easy for his side on the back of their title success last time out.
"To fight for the title is not simple especially in England. Last season we won and maybe we can do better to reinforce the team," he told BBC Sport. "Don't forget two years ago this club finished 10th. We are trying to do our best to give satisfaction to our fans but sometimes it is very difficult to do this.
"For sure we lost a great chance today to reduce the gap with Tottenham. There are seven games to go and we have to do our best until the end. At the end of the season you finish in the position you deserve."
Tottenham had gone 30 matches without victory away to Chelsea in all competitions prior to today's meeting.
