Chelsea boss Antonio Conte concedes he's missed former technical director Michael Emenalo this season.

Conte has been at loggerheads with the Chelsea board all season over recruitment.

And he believes the club's below-par campaign can be traced back to the loss of Emenalo in November.

The Nigerian is now transfer chief at Ligue 1 club Monaco.

Conte said: “To lose Michael, it was a big loss for us.

“He did a great job for this club for many years. Last season he helped me a lot during the season.

“This season, until he left, he helped me a lot too."

Chelsea have not replaced him, and Conte added: “This is not my decision.

“As you know very well, my task is to work very hard. This is the decision for others."