Antonio Conte hits back at Chelsea critics

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has hit back at criticism from pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Redknapp following his side's performance during their 1-0 defeat to Manchester City this afternoon.

The defending Premier League champions gave up 71% possession and failed to register a single shot on target as City cruised to a victory which was a lot more comfortable than the scoreline suggests.

Neville described Chelsea's performance as "unacceptable" while Redknapp slammed the tactics as "anti-football" and "a crime against football", but Conte insisted that he had little option but to try to limit the damage against a free-scoring Man City side.

"I think in this moment you have to accept every critic, but I am not so stupid to play against Manchester City open and to lose 3-0 or 4-0," he told reporters at his post-match press conference.

"If I remember well, a few days ago, Arsenal played twice against them and then you criticise a lot [Arsenal manager Arsene] Wenger because they concede three goals in only 30 minutes.

"I think that the pundit has to use the head to understand when you speak about tactics because I think that you must have knowledge to speak about tactics and not only to speak in a stupid way."

City registered 902 passes at the Etihad Stadium, which is the highest tally recorded in a Premier League game since Opta stats began in 2003-04.