If anybody ever doubted Antonio Conte’s tactical flexibility, he’s done nothing but proven his worth yet again over the last week.
After masterminding the undoing of Tottenham at Wembley, with what can only be considered as a surprising team selection that would go on to nullify their threats, allowing Chelsea to score four and seal a place in the FA Cup final.
He made yet more big calls on Tuesday night, as Chelsea welcomed Southampton to Stamford Bridge, knowing that they could apply some serious pressure on Tottenham, three points were a must. They got just that, extending their lead at the top to seven points, temporarily at least.
Conte made a host of changes to the team that had started just a few days earlier at Wembley, most notably, starting with a 3-5-2, with a three-man midfield made up of Cesc Fabregas, Nemanja Matic and N’Golo Kante at the heart of the team.
Reports have often hinted that having five through midfield is a style that Conte would look to implement at Stamford Bridge in the near future, and the formation has plenty of positives.
In front of the midfield three, Eden Hazard is a secondary striker playing a ‘free role’, alongside Diego Costa, who was back to his best against the Saints.
Hazard and Fabregas, in this current squad, are the key to unlocking the 3-5-2’s true potential.
Having Fabregas floating in front of both Kante and Matic means that the Blues lose no physicality in midfield, whilst still having the wide support of Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses respectively.
In the 3-4-3, the inside forwards and the wing-backs are what make the team link as one, they bridge the gap from defence to attack, but in this system, that can all go through Fabregas.
He can come deep and spray the ball wide, go over the top directly to Costa, or get forward and help out in the final third.
A bit of a look at the average positions in Chelsea’s 3-5-2 formation. #CHESOU #CFC pic.twitter.com/1WMkkI7McH
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) April 25, 2017
This is a system that we may well see more of in the Champions League next season, with the shape being slightly more suited to European football and the threats opposing sides may pose when compared to a 3-4-3.
Occupying a free role could be what helps take the Belgian to the next level. He can float from an inside forward, to and out-and-out winger, to a second striker, at the same time as having Fabregas behind him, so the Blues don’t lose any shape.
A number of fans and pundits alike have called for Hazard to be more ruthless in the final third, to shoot more and be more selfish if he wants to be considered with the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s of this world.
By handing him the free role alongside Costa, he becomes a nuisance for defenders. With no set position, partnered with his dynamic movement, he becomes a nightmare to mark.
Clubs have often tried to man-marked Hazard this season, see Ander Herrera at Old Trafford not too long ago.
In the more systematic 3-4-3, Hazard would often cut inside, but his game would be much more structured. In the 3-5-2, he can take up more central positions in the final third, where he’s closer to goal, which in turn should theoretically allow him to be more ruthless.
A prime example of the way the formation can allow Hazard to flourish is looking at Costa’s second goal of the night against Southampton.
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Despite the system slightly changing by this point in the game with Pedro coming off the bench, Hazard is playing much closer to Costa which allows for that intricate link-up play that resulted in a brilliant team goal.
Conte has often referred to himself as a tailor, making the best of what he has available to him. In Hazard, he has one of the best players in world football at his disposal and bringing the best out of the Belgian will be key to any success that Conte brings to Stamford Bridge.
