JOSE’S TURKEYS.. CONTE’S CRACKERS
Last Christmas Chelsea were a club in crisis.. but Conte has brought back goodwill and peace to the Bridge
WHAT a difference a year makes.
Twelve months ago, Chelsea were in meltdown – defeated by Leicester, a point off the relegation places and the players accused of “betrayal” by manager Jose Mourinho.
Within days, Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea for the second time and Guus Hiddink was again summoned to bring in some sense.
Fast forward from those days of December 2015 and you find Chelsea on a 10-game winning run in the Premier League, six points clear at top of the table and on course for another title.
The same Chelsea, yet a different Chelsea.
Since being installed as Mourinho’s successor in the summer, Antonio Conte has overseen a dramatic turnaround, aided by the £120 million summer transfer spending on players such as N’Golo Kante, David Luiz and Marcos Alonso.
Conte’s touchline antics may have infuriated rival bosses, but, after hitting a rocky patch, his trainingground work has reinvigorated a group of players, some of whom appeared to have no future at the club.
The 3-4-3 system adopted by the former Italy manager in the wake of the heavy defeat by Arsenal last September was the catalyst for the current success. Even Cesc Fabregas, one of those whose future is unsure under the Italian, stepped up with the only goal of the game at Sunderland and hinted at the relentless pursuit of improvement that Conte has brought.
“We want to keep winning, this period in the year is important and we can say a lot,” said Fabregas.
“We need to kill games off when we can because we had so many chances.
“In the first half, we were fantastic, we didn’t let them do anything. In the second half, they put a little bit more pressure on us, but we played well. We felt we were very strong.”
And, after making only his fifth start of the season Fabregas, admitted: “In football today, people forget very, very, very quickly who you are, and what you can do. Hopefully, now I can get a run of games in the team.
“People forget that was just the second time in my life that I have played this system. I am getting used to it, I have lots of players in front of me in space and protection behind me.”
Wing-back Alonso, who ran a lung-busting 7.8 miles at the Stadium of Light, says Conte’s intensity has been one of the keys to Chelsea’s resurgence. Alonso, who cost £23m from Fiorentina, has revealed the Blues boss won’t let his side relax until they have blown away rivals.
Chelsea made it 10 in a row by defeating Sunderland on Wednesday – and have conceded just two goals in 15 hours of football on that run.
But, far from relaxing, now they have a six-point lead at the top of the table, Alonso said: “The manager hasn’t changed with the wins. He hasn’t mellowed, definitely not.
“He likes to work hard and he likes the players to give everything. That is something that is passed down to the players every day and is very important for us in this run.
“He remains demanding. It helps us stay focused. The run is amazing. Ten wins and eight clean sheets. That says a lot about how the team is putting everything in and training hard during the week.
“In fact we are getting used to winning. We don’t celebrate like we used to!
“We are working so hard as a team, and that is the main reason. It is easy to work during the week if you are winning.”
Chelsea’s three-at-the-back formation, with Alonso and Victor Moses playing as high wing-backs, has broken the tactical mould.
It has solidified Chelsea, but they have also had Thibaut Courtois in great form – including two worldclass saves against the Black Cats.
Alonso added: “That says a lot about how the team is defending – putting everything in. We have got to keep doing this.
“But we have to thank Thibaut Courtois because he has been amazing. His two saves at Sunderland really gave us the three points.
“He has not participated that much in the last games.
“But he’s one of the best goalkeepers in the world and he is there to make an amazing save at the end.”
So, can Chelsea wipe Arsenal’s 14 wins in a row off the record books?
Smiling, Alonso said: “We have a lot of games now – it’s going to be a tough Christmas period.”