Conte’s formation switch works because he has best defenders
IWAS surprised Antonio Conte didn’t introduce his 3-4-3 formation even earlier than he did this season. I just think he was waiting for a good reason to change to what he knows best. It’s not a particularly adventurous tactic because when Chelsea don’t have the ball, it’s 5-4-1. But when they have the ball, all of a sudden it’s very attacking. It combines two different ingredients: Italian catenaccio and the flair of the players going forward. For it to work, you need great players at the back and great players up front, and that’s where Chelsea have an advantage over all their rivals.
All the so-called Big Six have enormous quality going forward. But defensively, Chelsea are the best. Manchester City and Manchester United are not as strong at the back, for example, and that is the difference. Chelsea are top of the league and will be favourites to beat United in the FA Cup tomorrow. They have come a long way from 1995 when I first signed.
They are one of the elite clubs in world football.
At United, Jose Mourinho is having to work hard because he’s not the only one with a good team. Five or six clubs have great players and it’s not easy to win. At Chelsea, when he started, he had the best squad and it helped dictate everything around him.
The best managers in the world are in the Premier League and they all have only one assignment, to win.
So you see the coaches who are used to success, getting nervous.
I have seen Pep Guardiola nervous, Jurgen Klopp, Mourinho himself. The only
one who doesn’t seem under enormous pressure right now is Conte and that’s because he is winning, but you don’t know what happens when things don’t go his way.
Ruud Gullit will feature in the BBC’s presentation team for Chelsea v Manchester United live on BBC One from 7.30pm tomorrow and will take part in the FA Cup semi-final draw following the game.