Chronicle EditorLONDON. — Chelsea fans will always have a place in their hearts for Jose Mourinho but are also learning to love another Latin coach as Antonio Conte displays the sort of tactical acumen that is steering the club towards the English Premier League soccer title.Monday’s 3-0 home win over Bournemouth represented a club record 12th successive English Premier League victory and left the Londoners seven points clear of their nearest rivals.
Such a happy Christmas at Stamford Bridge seemed most unlikely when Chelsea trailed Arsenal 3-0 at half-time in the league at the Emirates on September 24 and supporters would have been questioning Conte’s ability to win back the title Mourinho delivered in 2015.
The Italian did not write that game off as a totally lost cause and instead made a radical change by switching to a 3-4-3 formation and introducing new signing Marcos Alonso at left wing-back.
Adjusting quickly to their new shape, Chelsea did not concede in the second half and have won every game since playing in that system.
Going into Monday’s match with Diego Costa and N’Golo Kante suspended, it was widely assumed Conte would throw in 33 million pounds buy Michy Batshuayi for his first league start up front.
Instead the manager sprung a surprise by playing without a recognised striker and was rewarded with inventive attacking displays from two-goal Spaniard Pedro, Belgian Eden Hazard, who got the other from the penalty spot, and Brazilian Willian.
“This is the first time we played without a real forward, we tried this in training and I think for us at the moment this situation is the best,” Conte told reporters.
“But I don’t forget Michy because he is a young player with great talent. He is adapting to this league . . . in the future I trust in him.”
Despite Bournemouth, who won the corresponding fixture last season to help ease Mourinho out of Chelsea’s exit door, being in the game for long spells, the outcome was never really in doubt.
“We played a good game, we could have scored more but I am happy with the attitude of the players,” Conte said. “We played without two important players but I think we played very well.
“To win 12 games in a row is not easy in this league. It’s a fantastic run but it’s important to continue that . . . because now every team wants to beat you,” added Conte.
“We can’t look at the table but just need to keep this mentality.”
Conte insisted his focus is on the Premier League title and not seeing his Chelsea side set a new record of successive league victories.
The 3-0 defeat of Bournemouth on Monday set a new club record of 12 straight league wins, one short of Arsenal’s single-season mark from 14 years ago.
Victory over Stoke at Stamford Bridge next weekend will set up the possibility of Conte’s side breaking the record at Tottenham Hotspur.
Conte, though, says the only thing that concerns him is the impact on the table that shows Chelsea clear in top spot.
“If you ask me I hope to continue winning until the end of the season but, for sure, it is not easy,” said Conte.
“I am pleased to see my players with great concentration and focus, with great will to fight and continue in this way.
“To win 12 games in a row is not easy in this league.
“It’s a fantastic run but it’s important to continue that now.
“For me, it’s important only for the table.
“With these 12 wins in a row we took 36 points and our table position is fantastic now. It’s important only for this.
“I always thought that the record is not important if at the end you don’t reach something important in your championship.”
Pedro set Chelsea on course for victory with a 24th-minute opener before Eden Hazard added the second from the penalty spot four minutes into the second half and Pedro added the third in injury time.
Victory was achieved without suspended duo Diego Costa and N’Golo Kante and Conte believes this only increased the scale of his side’s achievement and will be noted by their main rivals.
“I think today we sent a good message,” said Conte.
“In general because I think that a lot of people waited to see if, without two really important players, Costa and Kante, we could lose points in this game.
“It didn’t happen, I am pleased for this, because I can count on all my players in the squad. I try in every game to make the best decision for the team without looking at the faces.”
Conte opted to employ Hazard as a central striker, forcing 23-year-old Belgian international forward Michy Batshuayi to continue his wait for a first league start since his £33 million arrival from Marseille.
“After the Crystal Palace game I said we had a week to work to find the right solution, to play for the first time without Diego, without Kante,” said Conte.
“After a week of work, I decide to choose this type of solution, with Eden, Pedro and Willian. I’m pleased for the performance of these players.
“I think that Michy is a really good player, but a young player, he is trying to adapt to this league.
“I try to make the best decision for the team but I am sure that Michy could have the possibility to show his talent in the future.”
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe admitted the defeat had taught his side a valuable lesson.
“When you have Hazard, Pedro and Willian, counter-attacking with such pace it’s difficult,” said Howe.
“I think that was probably the thing where we fell short, on the ball we gave them too many times to get into those situations by not being tight enough or good enough on the ball in those situations.
“That’s something we take away from this game.” — Reuters-AFP.
Online Reporter