LONDON: Chelsea’s players saved their season but maybe not their manager.

Collecting the FA Cup, after beating Manchester United 1-0 on Saturday, is looking like Antonio Conte’s final act with Chelsea.

“After two years, the club knows me very well,” Conte said. “And if they continue to want to work with me they know I can’t change. My way is always the same. I am the first to understand because I am the coach of an important club in England, in the world, and it is right the club demands of me a lot.”

Having won three Serie A titles at Juventus before capturing the English Premier League trophy for Chelsea, Conte reminded the Chelsea hierarchy: “Also in a difficult season, I have showed I am a serial winner. This is the truth. To win in this way, this season, has given me more satisfaction than my wins in the past.”

It was a bullish sign-off to a lacklustre season that saw the Italian’s relationship with Chelsea’s leadership become increasingly strained as the team went from champions to fifth in the Premier League.

“Our job is not simple,” Conte said. “I understand that the club can make a decision.”

Wembley match-winner Eden Hazard also has a decision to make: Whether to pursue a transfer.

After raising doubts about his Chelsea future ahead of the final demanding “good players” are signed in the offseason Hazard produced the only goal from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute.

On the pitch, amid the celebrations, Hazard said nothing to demonstrate his commitment to the club.

“I’m just happy,” Hazard said. “You see the fans celebrating with the trophy. We didn’t play a great season but at least we finished well.”

Although not in the style craved by Hazard.

“If we want to win a lot of games we have to play better,” Hazard said, “because today we played defensively.”

Such was the focus on the gloomy Premier League campaign and looming offseason of uncertainty in the post-match interviews, it was easy to forget Chelsea had just picked up a trophy.

“This was to save our season,” said Chelsea captain Gary Cahill, whose assured display would have impressed England manager Gareth Southgate.

“I’m not saying we’ve had a magnificent season by any stretch. But we are used to winning, not in an arrogant way, but we have to try to win things.

“We had a lot of defending to do, they pushed us until the very end. We are buzzing. This a dream come true because it is my first trophy win as captain of the club.”

Conte’s first cup final victory in coaching meant former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho finished his second season at United empty-handed, paying the price for an insipid first-half display and coming to life only after the break.

United took until the 56th minute to register a shot on target when Marcus Rashford struck at goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who later rushed off his line to block the forward.

United’s deficiencies were encapsulated by another patchy performance from midfielder Paul Pogba, who squandered a late chance to equalise by heading wide.

Mourinho, though, couldn’t find any faults and was scathing of what he perceived as Chelsea’s negative tactics to drop deep and defend their lead after going in front.

“I congratulate them because they won but I don’t think they deserved to win,” said Mourinho, who won the League Cup and Europa League last year.

Despite finishing second in the league, 19 points behind local rivals Manchester City, Mourinho has been routinely crticised this season for United’s own defensive approach.

“I am quite curious to know what you say or what people write because if my team plays like Chelsea did, I can imagine what people would say,” added Mourinho.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2018