LONDON -- Antonio Conte has insisted that Chelsea have no time for regrets as they attempt to chase down Liverpool and Tottenham for a place in the Champions League.
Chelsea must beat Huddersfield at home on Wednesday and Newcastle away on Sunday to have any chance of playing in next season's Champions League, while also hoping that either of the two teams ahead of them drop points.
If they do miss out, the shock opening-day defeat at home to Burnley as well as back-to-back losses against Bournemouth and Watford at the beginning of February will come to mind.
Conte admitted that Chelsea would rather have their fate in their own hands, but said his players would focus on the task at hand.
Asked if he felt it was easier to chase, Conte asked: "Do you think it is easier? I don't think so. I prefer to stay ahead and the other teams to have to put pressure on us like last season.
"Don't forget that in the last 12 games [of last season] Tottenham tried winning 10 games to put pressure until the end, and we were able to win many games and keep the right distance to win the title.
"It is easier to be ahead of the other teams, also because you know the situation is in your hands and not the other hands."
On the subject of Chelsea's unexpected setbacks this season, he added: "For sure there is a bit of disappointment because this season we dropped many points in a stupid way. Especially in games when we dominated the game and created many chances but we weren't able to score more goals, and the result was bad for us.
"We must be disappointed for this but now there is not time to regret, because we have to play two games and then the final of the FA Cup, and at the end of the season we will see our season."
Chelsea have won five successive matches in all competitions to revive their Premier League top-four hopes, with January signing Olivier Giroud emerging as a key figure up front.
The France international has scored four goals in his last five appearances for the Blues and while Alvaro Morata is poised to feature against Huddersfield after overcoming the minor injury that sidelined him against Liverpool, Conte said that Giroud has provided a timely boost.
"He has been a good signing for us," Conte said. "We are talking about a player with experience, an international player. He played many [seasons] in this country and a good signing for us.
"Now he is in good fitness and he played a really good game against Liverpool, not only for the goal but also because he worked very hard for the team with the ball and without the ball. We must be pleased for this signing."
Conte is expected to leave Chelsea at the end of the season regardless of whether they secure a top-four finish, but he would not be drawn on Huddersfield potentially being his last match at Stamford Bridge.
"I'm very focused on the present and I think my answer is always the same," he replied. "As you know our job is not simple, not easy but I am totally focused on the present and that is now to finish the season in the best possible way with my players, because our fans deserve this."