Conte insists he did not see Alonso’s challenge

Antonio Conte refused to be drawn on whether Marcos Alonso should face retrospective action for a challenge on Shane Long during Chelsea’s win at Southampton.

Saints boss Mark Hughes insisted Blues wide-man Alonso should have been sent off and ought to still be punished.

But Chelsea boss Conte said: “I must be honest and say I didn’t see this.

“In the past I have never complained for a negative situation for my team, and I have the same behaviours also in this.

“I didn’t see it, and I can’t comment on this situation.”

Conte said it was “a tactical decision” to leave out Antonio Rudiger at St Mary’s, where Olivier Giroud scored twice after coming on as a substitute at the visitors came back from two down to win 3-2.

“I was very angry from our first half,” Conte said.

“In the second half we showed great character, great determination and desire to win the game. We showed the right fire in our eyes.”