Tactical Changes To Expect Under Antonio Conte At Chelsea – What Are You Thinking?

This has been a season to forget for all the people who are connected with Chelsea Football Club. The fans have seen it all this season, the sacking of the most successful manager in the club’s history and the fall of the last year’s player of the year.

Chelsea sits 10th on the league table and will miss out on the Champions League in almost more than a decade. The Europa League is also looking like a distant dream and the blues won’t be in a European competition since the mid-1990s.

A lot of changes are expected to take place in the summer and the first inspiring change that is being rumoured is the arrival of Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge. The Italy national team coach is going to step down after the Euros and it is highly anticipated that the former Juventus man will take charge come this July.

This summer is going to be huge in the club’s history as there is expected to be a lot of changes in the squad and Conte is believed to have a large chunk of money to spend in the transfer window. Besides that, let us look at the tactical changes that Conte will bring to Chelsea:

The first thing that the Italian will change at the club is the style in which Chelsea have played this season. Though the blues won the title last time around, Mourinho’s Chelsea was always referred to as defensive, boring or the perfect word being pragmatic. Conte also believes in a solid back line but his teams play a high pressing game and look to steal the ball in the opponents’ half. It is for sure, the fans will see a new Chelsea under Antonio Conte.

For many years Chelsea have been used to playing in the 4-2-3-1 formation. Since the sacking of Claudio Ranieri, Chelsea have always played with two midfielders with one shielding and other contributing in the attack. This is one of the reason why Chelsea have looked so lackluster this season. Conte has been known as a man of many systems and his favourite systems are the 3-5-2 and the 4-3-3.

These systems will be adopted at the club in the summer and the three man midfield can dominate the play and because of this, Cesc Fabregas can get a lot of freedom to play at his best. New additions can also make Chelsea’s midfield ready for the campaign ahead.

Fullbacks are an integral part in Conte’s management. With three at the back, fullbacks play and important role in providing support in the attack and the blues have Cesar Azpilicueta on one side who can do the job splendidly and Baba Rehman is an exciting prospect on the left flank and can blossom under the Italian’s leadership.

Conte is known to play with two strikers upfront and this may benefit Diego Costa who has looked isolated at times. This system might also give Eden Hazard to play centrally which can work in his favor.

Chelsea have to spend big this transfer window and if the right players arrive, along with Conte’s tactical brilliance, the blues can dream of silverware again in the future.