Chelsea news: Antonio Conte’s sides always have sloppy starts… but boy do they come good after the break
NOT long after Antonio Conte was appointed Chelsea manager, many blues supporters took to the internet to try and find out a little more about what kind of football the animated Italian would bring to our beloved team.
Would it be three or four at the back? A lone striker or two up front? Would the players already on the roster at Stamford Bridge be suitable to the way he plays? Who would we sign to play for him?
All run of the mill pre-season questions as a Chelsea supporter, given we have a new manager most years.
One thing that stuck in my mind more than most came from a Juventus supporter who’d seen Conte win three consecutive titles. He said; “Get used to seeing your team be much better in the second half than they were in the first!”
After only seven games this season those words ring in my ears every time we concede, or don’t play to our potential in the first half.
In most cases Conte has either made changes or fired a rocket in the general direction of the dressing room, and out have come a different team for the second half. Liverpool aside, that is!
So it was no surprise to me to see us concede yet again last night at Leicester, although it was more the manner of the goal conceded I was worried about.
I believed we still could turn it around - but then the second went in…
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At 2-0 down I had a horrible sense of déjà vu, but I told myself Conte will make changes at half time, and 45 minutes of football was enough to get two goals - but then up popped Gary Cahill in the dying embers of the half to make it 2-1 and I believed it even more.
With the second half underway, a rocket of a volley from Azpilicueta brought us level and then there was only going to be one winner in my mind.
Despite chances to kill the game off, most notably from Diego Costa, Leicester to their credit took us towards extra time and could have nicked it late on themselves.
Just as we received a boost before half time with Cahill’s goal, as extra time loomed large we received another as Leicester were reduced to ten men when Marcin Wasilewski was sent off for two bookable offences.
I asked myself; “If we improved after half time, would we improve more after full time?” It didn’t take long for Chelsea, more specifically Cesc Fabregas, to answer for me.
After five minutes of extra time we were ahead 4-2 and played out the rest of the match like a keep ball exercise to seal the win.
So we’re through to the next round, albeit with less fingernails than before and a potential heart condition in the making, and with each passing match that Juve supporter’s words ring ever louder in my ears.
It’s going to be a long season…
The Good: The team’s overall response, especially Cesc’s performance, 100th appearance, two goals and an assist - what more could you want? Some of the passing and movement was beautiful to watch, and bonus points for a long overdue first team debut for Nathaniel Chalobah.
The Bad: Cahill & David Luiz at central defence, I’m not sure what the question is but that pairing is not the answer!
The Ugly: Yep, Diego Costa, though not for anything ugly on the pitch this time, more the face only a mother could love, Diego was outstanding when he came on, unlucky not to score and looks like a player reborn under Conte, he may not win any beauty contests, but he wins us matches.