WE DON’T NEED A BIG LUMP UP FRONT
Conte should call off search, says Hazard
Antonio Conte will ask Chelsea to plough on this week with their efforts to sign a centre forward to help lead the line. on the latest evidence, he needn’t bother.
eyebrows have been raised at the names linked with Stamford Bridge this month and the scepticism was only heightened by a performance against Brighton fluent in the arts of intricacy and getting the ball on the deck.
Amid talk of Andy Carroll, Peter Crouch and edin Dzeko, another trio, far less towering, made their point — and emphatically so. in the absence of the suspended Alvaro Morata, eden Hazard, Michy Batshuayi and Willian ran the show at the Amex Stadium from start to finish, linking up time and again to torment a fragile Seagulls back line.
they made it look simple at times, but then, according to Hazard, who netted his 100th and 101st league goals, that’s the way it should be.
‘Football is simple — keep the ball on the ground and try (to play) like we did,’ he said.
‘i think we have two very good strikers in Alvaro and Michy. if they are not ready to play i can play striker, so i don’t think we need (another one).
‘ Because we are missing chances, people are saying we need another striker, but if we are scoring goals we are the best attack in the league and no one can say we need a striker.
‘it depends on the form of the team and i think we’re happy with the team we have.’
At no point was Chelsea’s rhythm more eloquently displayed than Willian’s sixthminute strike that involved the influential trio sharing six passes, including two neat backheels.
‘When you see the second goal with Willian, it’s one of the best of the season because we create movement with one touch, one touch, and then the finishing is good,’ Hazard said. ‘We want to do more like this. Who is the best team this year? Man City. the strikers, Jesus and Aguero, are not big. it’s simple.
‘it depends how you want to play. if you want to play with long balls you need a target man, if you want to keep the ball on the floor you need a small guy. it depends how you want to play.’
that all depends on the manager, and at Chelsea this season slick passing has given way to attritional tendencies, especially when Morata has been leading from the front.
Despite Saturday’s display, Conte has not been dissuaded from his traditional line of approach.
‘in my idea of football, we need a striker who must be a point of reference, to have these type of combinations,’ said the italian boss.
‘Batshuayi played a really good game — he didn’t score, but he worked well for the team. He did what i asked him to do.
‘A no 9 is an important player — i want him to be a point of reference to our team. today i’m very satisfied with Batshuayi.’
While Conte may be satisfied, Batshuayi is not. it is no secret that the striker is in search of more regular first-team action this month as he looks to secure his place in Roberto Martinez’s Belgium squad for the World Cup in Russia this summer.
His unease at a bit-part role is one of the factors in the search for someone who can be part of a plan B in attack, a player who is more inclined to accept a place on the bench and an occasional cameo. it is why Crouch has appeared as a genuine target.
it is not just clubs at the top that must deal with frustrated players either.
Rumours swirled before kick-off at the Amex that Anthony Knockaert, last season’s Championship Player of the Year, had stormed out after being omitted from the Brighton side. He hadn’t, he was watching from the east Stand. in any case, team- mate Glenn Murray was understanding of the situation.
‘if any professional footballer is left out of the squad they are not going to be happy,’ said Murray. ‘He trained yesterday, i think he was ill on Wednesday and thursday.
‘He came back yesterday so obviously he is going to be disappointed but you have to take the illness into account too.’
Chris Hughton was unaware of his winger’s apparent strop. What he had seen, though, was a Chelsea side with no need for a new centre forward.
‘if i’m looking at what they do have, it’s wonderful options and
we weren’t sure what they would do up front,’ said the Brighton manager. anager.
‘You You know they have players in Pedro, dro, Hazard and Willian that, if they ey are not playing a classic No 9, can n do wonderful jobs and be as effective ective because it’s a different type pe of game and in some ways those ose type of players are more ore difficult to mark than your ur classic No 9s.’
Conte, onte, it would appear, pear, is not so convinced. nvinced. BRIGHTON GHTON (3-4-2-1): Ryan 6; Goldson 5.5, Duffy 5.5, Dunk k 5; Schelotto 7, Stephens 6, Propper 6.5, Suttner ner 6.5; Gross 6 (Kayal 68min, 6), March 7 (Izquierdo uierdo 83); Hemed 5.5 (Murray 68, 6). Subs not used: Hunemeier, Baldock, Rosenior, Krul. Booked: ked: Schelotto, Duffy, Goldson. Manager: ager: Chris Hughton 6.5. CHELSEA LSEA (3-4-3): Caballero 6; Azpilicueta 6, Christensen stensen 7 (Luiz 58, 6), Rudiger 6; Moses 6.5, Bakayoko ayoko 7, Kante 7, Alonso 6.5 (Zappacosta 75, 6); Willian an 8 (Musonda 81), Batshuayi 7, HAZARD 8.5. Subs s not used: Eduardo, Sterling, Ampadu, Barkley. Scorers: rers: Hazard 3, 77, Willian 8, Moses 89. Manager: ager: Antonio Conte 7. Referee: ree: Jonathan Moss 5. Attendance: 30,600.