CONTE: FOCUSED FOR SURE

As expected, Antonio Conte did not wish to give anything away about his team selection tomorrow, for a game he calls ‘very important’ and anticipates will be tactical.

Emerson is ruled out, but the left wing-back apart there was no fresh injury news when the boss spoke to the media at Cobham for the final time this season.

For Conte and the team, tomorrow’s meeting with Manchester United represents not only a chance for silverware this season but also an opportunity to redress the balance after the FA Cup final was lost at the end of 2016/17.

‘To get to the final for the second time in a row is a great achievement for me, my players and the fans,’ Conte told the reporters.

‘I remember the last final against Arsenal very well. It was a strange game. The first goal wasn’t good. We were able to come back to 1-1, and we finished the game with 10 men because Victor Moses got a red card. It was a strange final, and a pity because we had the possibility to do the Double.

‘This game is very important because we can finish a difficult season with a trophy. It’s important for the players, the coach and the fans to finish the season with a trophy.

‘We are focused on this target. We have to try to do everything to win the game. We need to be focused. It’s a really important competition, the oldest trophy in the world. My players will be focused on the game for sure.’

Conte described his relationship with Jose Mourinho as normal. Tomorrow he will shake his counterpart’s hand and then they will both think about the game. His description of Mourinho’s team is ‘strong’.

‘This is a final,’ Conte added. ‘When you play the final, the most important thing is to win. It will be a tactical game for sure. I don’t know what type of game we will see, but for sure it will be very tough for both teams.’