Chelsea boss Antonio Conte: Manchester United are favourites to win FA Cup

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Vaishali Bhardwaj22 April 2018

Antonio Conte thinks Manchester United, and not Chelsea, will be favourites to win the FA Cup this season.

Chelsea booked their place in their second straight FA Cup final on Sunday after beating Southampton 2-0 at Wembley.

A day earlier and in the same venue, United came from behind to defeat Tottenham 2-1 to set up a Cup final clash that will see Conte and Mourinho - who had a public falling out earlier this year - come face-to-face once more.

The FA Cup gives both Chelsea, who lost in the final to Arsenal last season, and United their only chance of winning a piece of silverware this season.

And Conte insisted after the win over Southampton that there are no problems between himself and Mourinho and labelled United as favourites to triumph in the final in May.

When asked about Mourinho, Conte told reporters at Wembley: "With Jose, we have clarified the situation. This is the most important thing. There is not a problem between him and I.

"I think this final is a game between two great teams: Manchester United and Chelsea. For sure, in my mind, I can tell you that we played last season in the final and arrived as favourites against Arsenal.

"This season, we are arriving not as favourites. But, as you know very well, we lost the final despite being favourites in my mind."

When then asked to elaborate further on Mourinho, Conte replied: "We are talking about two managers with strong characters, and two winners.

"When in your mind and your heart and your blood there is the will to win, for sure, we want to try to win this trophy. The same way Manchester United want to do this.

"I repeat. I have great respect for United's story, for Mourinho's story. They have the same respect, I think, for Chelsea's story and my story."

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