Chelsea have moved on, they have a new hero
The game on Sunday afternoon was banded around with plenty of storylines. Sky Sports dubbed it as ‘The Return’. It was also compared to meeting an old partner that you’ve not yet moved on from.
The latter was the best example for me, Jose Mourinho left Chelsea as a sinking ship and it was until recently this season that Antonio Conte has managed to put plans in place to right these wrongs.
Like an old relationship, Chelsea showed signs of a hangover, as they failed to move on from the ‘Mourinho era’ in the earlier stages of the season, but the club swiped right for Conte and his methods are starting to pay off at the Bridge.
Winning the game so comfortably can seal the lid on the Mourinho era and give Chelsea fans the closure, if you will. Stamford Bridge has a new hero, he’s Italian, he’s exuberant and he knows what he wants.
One of the better images from yesterday… #CFC pic.twitter.com/G3n9Dt0s6T
— Read Chelsea (@ReadChelseaFC) October 24, 2016
If we’re being honest, the game was slightly ‘overdubbed’ if you will, once the first whistle was blown, the drama off the pitch would stop and a game of football commenced. And what a game that was.
Some of the football that was played against Manchester United was simply sublime, and that was all down to the change in formation to 3-4-3. It offered Chelsea so much flexibility in the final third.
Despite being put under some, at times, intense pressure from Mourinho’s United, the Blues next looked like conceding as they stayed resolute at the back.
Conte may have originally tried to work with what he had at Chelsea, but getting the players on board and buying into his methods this early in the season is some achievement.
There was definitely an element of added motivation against Mourinho yesterday, but that’s the way it should be.
The 3-4-3 is bringing the best out of Eden Hazard, who is constantly finding pockets of space between the lines, leaving him to have much more of an impact on games. We have a striker in red hot form, with seven goals and two assists in nine games, making a case to be known as the best in the league in his position.
Chelsea were waiting for a ‘real test’ this season. They eased past Premier League champions Leicester at Stamford Bridge, but with their up and down form so far this campaign, it’s difficult to know what you can take from that.
Mourinho provided the biggest test so far for Conte’s new formation and they could not manage the width and the pace that it provided the Blues.
But there’s more to the win that meets the eye, prior to kick off yesterday, there was an element of fear in the supporters. You could say nervousness. We know better than any set of supporters what Mourinho is capable of in big games. We know his plans as well as he does.
Winning the game so comfortably will install the belief into the players that the Chelsea we know and have become so familiar with are getting back to their best.
That level of performances comes with managing expectation, the top four must still be the aim for Conte. Finishing inside that is a must, wherein there, will be an added bonus.
The most exciting thing for Chelsea fans is the fact that there is more to come from this squad. They’ve got more time with Conte, more signings in the future. They’re back to their best, but not their very best just yet.