Chelsea's main focus is now securing a place in the top-four, concedes furious Antonio Conte

The Chelsea manager admitted in the wake of defeat that the title was now out of reach

Antonio Conte says Chelsea will not win the title this season (Getty)

Chelsea will now shift their focus to securing a top-four spot this season after their title hopes were extinguished following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at West Ham, manager Antonio Conte has conceded.

The Blues succumbed to a fourth loss of the current campaign at the hands of David Moyes’ men, with Marko Arnautovic striking after just six minutes into the London derby to sink the visitors.

Conte’s side subsequently struggled to break down a resilient and revitalised West Ham side that, in periods of the game, put on a show for the London Stadium crowd. Alvaro Morata notably spurned a late chance from eight yards out but the hosts clung on for a precious win – their first in nine league games.

The Chelsea manager admitted in the wake of defeat that the title was now out of reach for his side and insisted that Champions League football would be their priority in the months to come.

“This is the fourth defeat this season in 16 games, he said. “When you have this task it is impossible to think that you are in the title race. It is impossible.

“My experience is this, if you want to stay in the race for the title, in the first part of the season you can lose once, twice.”

He added: “There are six top teams and there are only four places for the Champions League and two places for the Europa League. You have targets. Also if Manchester City has many points over you, you have an important target to try to get into the top four and play in the Champions League.

“Don’t forget, two years ago Chelsea missed this target, last season we didn’t play European games.

“I repeat, we have our target to try to play for one of the four places in next season’s Champions League.

“This target is very important for me, for the players and for all. I repeat, it is not simple to reach the first four positions.”

The likes of Hazard struggled (Getty)

Chelsea lacked their usual dynamism and creativity against West Ham in Saturday’s defeat, with Eden Hazard notably flying under the radar in what was an insipid display from the Belgian.

The visitors certainly enjoyed their chances in front of goal, with the likes of Morata, N’Golo Kante and David Zappacosta all coming close throughout the game, but Chelsea were ultimately unable to find an equaliser.

Costa was left to lament his side’s profligacy and insisted that improvements need to be made.

“It is not right to lose confidence and also don’t forget today we shot 19 times but we didn’t score,” he said. “For sure, we have to improve our finishing and be more clinical. In the game against Atletico Madrid, the same thing happened because we created many chances.

“We must learn to be more clinical, then to rest and recover more energy because it is not simple to play every three games.

“We are a team and we must improve as a team.”