Antonio Conte’s tactical tinkering at Chelsea is a reminder of a good manager’s worth
Chelsea’s Antonio Conte has done coaches everywhere a huge service in a fortnight that has not only revealed his influence but also reminded us that the job is not just about man-management.
After a decent start to his tenure, Conte lost his way with back-to-back Premier League defeats to Liverpool and then Arsenal, the latter a 3-0 dismantling. Suddenly the team looked directionless, and it was a surprise to see him struggling so soon.
I take my hat off to him for what he did next. A lot of managers would have kept beating the same drum but he stopped, asked himself how he could get the best out of his players, and set about correcting it.
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That loss to Arsenal spelled the end of his use of a 4-1-4-1 formation. A trip to Hull offered a good opportunity to experiment with a 3-4-3 system – and he and Chelsea haven’t looked back.
The Blues have scored nine and conceded none in their last three games, culminating in Sunday’s incredible 4-0 win over Manchester United. Conte hasn’t just steadied the ship; he has set the bar.
Moses masterstroke
Tactically, he has got it spot-on. He is where Jose Mourinho would love to be with United. Chelsea are back playing fast, dynamic football that maximises the effectiveness of the players at his disposal.
Eden Hazard has been freed up to be more of an attacking threat with fewer defensive duties, while the system has made a mockery of David Luiz’s critics; the Brazilian fits well into a three-man defence.
Who would have thought of recalling Victor Moses? Yet the winger has been a revelation as a wing-back, and even Pedro, a makeweight for much of his time at the club, looks reinvigorated.
Blues ahead of schedule
The squad must be looking forward to every game; the challenge now is to sustain the improvement. After a tricky spell they have winnable games against West Ham, Southampton and Middlesbrough on the horizon.
Chelsea are fourth, which is about where I expected them to be at this stage, but they are probably a little ahead of schedule in terms of their development.
Conte doesn’t always impress me in interviews but the players seem to have wholeheartedly bought into his plans. When you have man-management plus tactical awareness, you’re onto something.