Roman wants to build a dynasty... and Conte is right man for the job
THURSDAY will be the sixth anniversary of a pretty unremarkable FA Cup fourth-round replay at a sparsely populated DW Stadium.
Only 7,515 people showed up to watch Owen Coyle’s Bolton Wanderers edge past Wigan Athletic and Roberto Martinez, thanks to a second-half goal from Ivan Klasnic.
It was a tough night for the immensely likeable Sam Ricketts, who ruptured his s Achilles trying to close down a Wigan substitute just before the hour-mark.
That substitute was Victor Moses ( above), who had appeared as a 43rd- minute replacement for the injured Callum McManaman.
The replacement for Ricketts was Marcos Alonso.
Fast forward to 2017 and that substitute combination is a key element to Chelsea’s inexorable progression towards the Premier League title, their worth encapsulated in the first goal against Arsenal last weekend.
Moses with the cross, Alonso with the finish after Diego Costa’s header hit the bar. This hugely unlikely pairing, oper operating on opposite fla flanks, but in perfect t tandem, is just one manifestation of Antonio Conte’s coaching brilliance.
Conte is getting plentyple of credit, but probably deserves more.
Look at the players he has improved.
Considering their dismal campaign last season – they are currently 30 points better off than they were at the equivalent stage of 2015-16 – it is bound to look as though players have improved.
But it is hard to remember Gary Cahill, who also played in that 2011 Wigan-Bolton game, by the way, performing with such authority for a long time.
Even Thibaut Courtois appears to have benefited from his latest manager’s input. Eden Hazard, meanwhi le, has responded to Conte’s carrot rather than Jose Mourinho’s stick.
If he performs, Hazard can have the freedom of the park without fear of reprisal.
It was a telling insight last performed well. Ranieri (right) rested his first-choice defensive unit for the 3-1 FA Cup win over Derby, a defensive unit that has conceded 10 goals in four Premier League matches.
If he is bold, Ranieri might just keep some members of that unit on the sidelines.
Being bold might justify that unwavering support. week when Conte was talking about players being uneasy watching video re- runs of matches.
The implication was that they feared the coach would simply point out mistakes.
It took Conte a while to convince them constructive advice was the only thing he was looking to impart. .
When you are e cruising at the top of a league, there is bound to be a feelgood factor at the training ground, but talk to any of the he staff behind the scenes and only positive feedback is garnered.
Conte’s general handling of Diego Costa has gone down well, the squad has bought into a stricter fitness regime and the extra tactical analysis has grown on them.
For his part, Conte is relishing the challenge of the Premier League and life in London and England. Which does make you wonder if Conte will finally be THE one to grow old with the owner.
Roman Abramovich has not kept the same manager for longer than three years and a couple of months – Jose Mourinho, first time around. But there have been strong sugg suggestions that he is tired of the hire- and- fire r routine, especially as it tends to cost him a fortune.
Conte knows Carlo A Ancelotti well, so will be fully aware that first-season success does not necessarily mean long- term security. Conte, in the first of a three- year deal, might only fancy a short stint here.
But Chelsea and Abramovich (above) would do well to find out.
Because if they do want someone to create a modern dynasty, Conte is shaping up to be the man.
GOOD on Arsene Wenger and other Premier League managers for refusing to have TV cameras inside the dressing room. There has to be some mystique left in the game and, thanks to Mesut & Co’s selfies (right), we’ve all seen enough of Arsenal’s posers preening as they prepare to shower. Sutton United, though, will have a camera in their dressing room for the FA Cup tie. Chairman Bruce Elliott said it “was no big deal”… but it was a big cheque.