Antonio Conte: Chelsea face must-win game against Tottenham Hotspur

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has admitted that the Blues will find it hard to finish in the top four of the Premier League, should they fail to attain three points against Tottenham Hotspur this weekend.

The Blues are presently five points behind Spurs, who are in the fourth spot, and Conte believes anything less than a win over Mauricio Pochettino's side would hamper their chances of playing Champions League football next term.

Speaking in his press conference, he said, via Evening Standard: "For sure this is an important game for us. Our target is to try and take a place in the Champions League and reach the final of the FA Cup and to win if we are able.

"These are our targets. Sunday is an important game because if we win we go very close - otherwise we continue to stay not so close and with seven games to go it will be difficult to take a place in the Champions League."

Chelsea have endured an average run since the turn of the year, and this has since them succumbed to damaging defeats to Manchester United and Manchester City in the Premier League.

They have also been ousted of the League Cup and Champions League during the same period, and the FA Cup now remains their only possibility of claiming a trophy this term.