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Antonio
Conte says Lincoln's progress provided a last-minute reminder of the
potential pitfalls of the FA Cup, which Chelsea avoided by winning 2-0 at
Wolves.
The Blues joined non-League Lincoln in the FA Cup quarter-final draw as
Pedro and Diego Costa scored second-half goals to eliminate a Wolves team
which had beaten Stoke and Liverpool to reach the fifth round.
Chelsea, Premier League leaders by eight points after drawing at Burnley
last weekend, are still on for a possible league and cup double.
That is a target for Conte, who says nothing can be taken for granted after
the Imps' win at Burnley saw a non-League side advance to the last eight for
the first time in 103 years.
"This challenge was very tough, but we all knew (that)," Conte said.
"Above all after the result this afternoon (at Turf Moor). I tried to warn
the changing room about the difficulty of this game, of this competition.
"It's important to understand nothing is easy. If someone thinks in the
league Chelsea for sure become the champions and in the FA Cup for sure you
can win this trophy... it'll be very difficult.
"But we know that we stay there and we want to try to arrive at the end, to
try to win some trophies."
Chelsea academy graduate George Saville hit the post after five minutes for
Wolves.
And an hour later the hosts' resilience was punctured when a clinical
counter-attack concluded with Pedro heading in at the back post.
Diego Costa was outplayed by namesake Helder Costa for much of a contest in
which Eden Hazard was a peripheral figure.
But both had a role in Pedro's goal and Diego Costa struck his 16th of the
season late on.
Conte added: "We were very good to suffer in the first half.
"Wolverhampton started the game very well with great intensity.
"They hit the post after five minutes and we were lucky. In the second half
we played our football, we played very well.
"We scored two goals. Wolverhampton deserve my compliments for the
performance."
Lincoln were complimented, too, with a bow from Conte.
"This is a great achievement for them and also this is the beauty of
football and the FA Cup," he said.
"I'm pleased to live this story with them. Now we are with Lincoln in the
quarter-final. It's fantastic."
Conte was a Juventus player when they were beaten by a Borussia Dortmund
side featuring Paul Lambert in the 1997 Champions League final. Conte was
absent that day.
Lambert, now Wolves boss, said: "I'll take one each."
The Scot praised Conte and expects Chelsea to claim the double.
Lambert added: "They've got a fantastic manager. He's relentless. He's a
good man.
"They're firing on all cylinders at the moment. I know the league's not
over. Manchester City will have a big say in it.
"It's going to be one hell of a team to stop them from taking both
trophies."