Chelsea boss Antonio Conte insists he can understand Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne being sold.

The Belgium internationals were sold to Everton and Wolfsburg respectively after not being given much of a chance at Stamford Bridge by Jose Mourinho.

Asked about the duo's departure, Conte said: "It's always very difficult to always take the best decision.

"Sometimes it can happen that you think one thing and then, in the future, something else happens. A different situation.

"I think, above all, in football it's not simple to give always a correct evaluation for players.

"Sometimes a player who, in the last two years or so, didn't play well goes on to have a fantastic season.

"That happens. But it's not right to talk about mistakes."