ANTONIO CONTE

will relish going to Old Trafford today after their performance in midweek. It’s one thing to have a plan to play against Barcelona but quite another to implement it so well. Conte showed what a fine coach he is, again. We knew it from what he did last season to win the league. But this was a timely reminder to the board, after a season in which the tensions over who signs which players have been evident.

A few weeks back, when Chelsea were conceding three against Bournemouth and four against Watford, their season looked ready to fall apart. But if there any question as to whether Conte could still get fine performances from these players, then it was answered on Tuesday. It’s not just about the first player in a blue shirt closing down; it was about the second and third getting there. They were the ones winning the ball back.

They will need a bit more of that today but Manchester United are no Barcelona and Chelsea will feel buoyed by recent form. They still have an awful of work to do at the Nou Camp and may well go out but with an FA Cup quarter final to come and a decent run in the Premier League, this could yet turn out well for Conte, leaving Chelsea a tricky decision to make at the end of the season.