Antonio Conte forced to defend his decision to allow Thibaut Courtois take his shocking penalty
ANTONIO CONTE has been forced to defend his decision to pick Thibaut Courtois as one of Chelsea’s penalty takers.
The keeper took Blues’ second penalty but ballooned his strike hopelessly over the bar as his side missed out on their first silverware of the season.
Chelsea players Thibaut Courtois and Alvaro Morata both miss penalties in the Community Shield shootout against winners Arsenal at Wembley
Thibaut Courtois took Chelsea's second penalty but blazed it overJamie McPhilimey - The SunThibaut Courtois' penalty was high, wide and not very handsomeRex Features
When asked why he opted to hand Courtois a spot-kick, Conte was bullish in his response.
He said: "He is one of our best players to take a penalty.
"If your player shows you in training to be one of the best, you pick him to play and try and shoot a penalty.
"But don't forget [Alvaro] Morata is a forward and he did the same."
Antonio Conte revealed Thibaut Courtois is one of the best penalty takers in the squadGetty - ContributorAlvaro Morata also missed from the spot when he put his kick widePA:Press AssociationVictor Moses handed Chelsea the lead just after half-timeNews Group Newspapers Ltd
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Morata, Chelsea's club record signing, also missed the target from 12-yards having dragged his penalty past the post.
Conte's side looked to be cruising to victory following Victor Moses' opener just after half-time.
But Pedro received his marching orders following a nasty tackle on Granit Xhaka and it proved costly.
Minutes later Arsenal's summer signing Sead Kolasinac headed Arsenal level before neither side could grab the winner before the full-time whistle.
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