Antonio Conte: 'Alvaro Morata not only Chelsea player to blame'

Antonio Conte has confessed that Chelsea 'have to improve in the final third' after being held to a third successive goalless draw for the first time in the club's history.

The Blues were unable to break down Leicester City in the most recent of those outings, being made to settle for another Premier League stalemate on Saturday afternoon.

Summer signing Alvaro Morata has faced plenty of criticism during Chelsea's ongoing four-match winless run in all competitions, having failed to net in any of those games.

Conte has leapt to the defence of his striker, though, insisting that others also have to do more to help with the goalscoring burden.

"I think the problem is for the team, not only for Morata," he told reporters. "Compare last season, we are conceding less and showing great solidity defensively. But, at the same time, we are not showing great quality in our finishing.

"This is the truth. But not only for Morata. Defenders have had chances from corners, and we've not taken those chances to score. We have to try to improve on this aspect.

"But the problem is not only for Morata or [Michy] Batshuayi when he plays. It's for all the team. We have to try and improve our quality in the finishing in the last third."

Spain international Morata has 13 goals in 30 appearances for club and country this term, but just two in his last 13.