On Sunday, Chelsea continued their winning run with arguably their best performance of the season against Manchester United, as they thrashed Mourinho's star-studded team 4-nil to inflict the heaviest defeat he has ever suffered as a Premier League Manager. Here are my thoughts on Chelsea's victory.
1. The players are definitely absorbing Conte's tactics and principles.
He has been hammering on not making the mistakes of last season since the collapse in the first half against Arsenal, the lads have taken the message to heart and are gradually reaping the rewards. The climax was this weekend, against Manchester United, you would have thought it was going to be a cagey affair but all the plans of Mr Mourinho were blown away after 29 seconds. Before we could say 'Jack Robinson' Chelsea had doubled their lead by the 21st minute. Even after Kante's goal, we could still hear Conte shouting instructions from the touchline - "go!, stay!".
From the last two matches, Conte seems to switch from a 3-4-3 to 3-5-2 formation with the introduction of Nathaniel Chalobah to sure up midfield leaving Eden Hazard to play the role of a second striker.
2. I could swear those Chelsea lads were on drugs in the first half.
When you have players who cut a frustrated figure for Chelsea last season under Mourinho, you just know they were out to pay him in his own coin. In some instances, he publicly criticised some of his players for sabotaging his efforts and treated Victor Moses with little regard as the player told the press during the pre-match conference.
"He never spoke to me," Moses said of Mourinho. "I thought in my head, 'He's got his own players already.'
Players like Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas at one point or the other last season were held accountable for the dismal performance of the team. It's unfortunate Fabregas still couldn't survive the boot under Conte but the manner in which Chelsea started the match said it all - Fast and Furious.
3. Mourinho is neither the 'Special nor Happy One' and looks to be confused these days.
When Mourinho first arrived to the Premier League in 2004, he claimed that he was 'the Special one'. Upon his reunion with Chelsea in 2013, he said he was now 'the Happy one' but as it stands, Mourinho is neither. He cut a forlorn figure after Kante's goal showing clearly a man who felt humiliated. Guess we should call him 'the Humiliated one'.
When at Chelsea, the Portuguese coach sold Mata simply because the Spainard couldn't defend only to claim at Manchester United that Mata fits his style. The management of his squad in general has been questionable. Doesn't know the best postion for Pogba, plays Marcus Rasford on the wings and hasn't afforded Henri Mikhtayran the confidence to thrive at Old Trafford. What do you see? A confused Mourinho.
4. Chelsea's defence becoming impenetrable.
How many minutes and counting has Chelsea last conceded a goal? It's a remarkable turnaround for a team that averaged 1.62 goals conceded from its first eight games in all competitions to none conceded in its last three matches plus if we factor in that second half against Arsenal.
On Sunday, Manchester United couldn't find a way through Chelsea's defense, then at some point in the match, resorted to taking outside shots and crosses which were comfortable for Thibaut Courtois.
5. Average players have been made to look like world beaters in Conte's formation.
I could remember that most Chelsea faithfuls especially back here in Nigeria clamoured for the sale of Nemanja Matic, simply because he looked a spent force in their eye. What could we say about a player of Marcos Alonso's caliber? Or Did you ever dream of having a player like Victor Moses tie down a starter's jersey in Chelsea? It's all down to Conte, the work his doing at Chelsea is reminiscent of what he did with the Italian national team at the Euros.
Hopefully, come May 2017, Chelsea should have reaped the reward(s) of a debut season with their Italian manager.
0 comments:
Post a Comment