Conte gets a lift from Hazard rally
Antonio Conte was pleased with his side’s character as they rallied for a dramatic 3-3 Champions League draw at home to Roma last night.
Chelsea had surrendered a 2-0 lead, earned through strikes from David Luiz and Eden Hazard, to trail 3-2 with 20 minutes left.
Edin Dzeko’s quickfire double, after Aleksandar Kolarov’s strike, looked like handing the visitors victory before Hazard (pictured) headed in an equaliser.
It meant Chelsea avoided what would have been the first three-match losing streak under Conte’s stewardship. Conte, who deployed defender David Luiz in midfield, admitted his tactics contributed to Chelsea being second best.
When Luiz went off for Pedro, Chelsea reverted to their usual 3-4-3 formation.
“I didn’t like the type of football we did for a lot of the game, but it’s right to take the responsibility for this,” Conte said. “I tried on one hand to protect my team, to become more solid and to move our central defender into midfield.
“On the other hand, we lost totally our style of football. Sometimes you have to find the right solution to try to protect your team. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad. It was good to draw. Roma deserved this result.
“I have to praise my players, because my players showed me a big effort, a big commitment. Otherwise we lose the game.”
Hazard rued conceding a two-goal lead, but said Chelsea can be happy to top Group C by two points from Roma ahead of the October 31 return. “When you are 2-0 up at home, you must win the game,” Hazard said.
“But one point is enough after two defeats. It’s not easy to bounce back against a great team but we did.”
Chelsea, already without N’Golo Kante, Victor Moses (both hamstring) and Danny Drinkwater (calf ), saw Luiz suffer a calf injury which could make him doubtful for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Watford.
Tiemoue Bakayoko played on despite a groin problem, while Conte played down concerns over Gary Cahill, who ended with a heavily bandaged head, saying it was “nothing serious”.