Antonio Conte made plenty of comments in the press this week in addition to the usual rounds of media rumours amid the pre-season tour, leading to a particularly active edition of Tactics and Transfers.
Plenty has happened since the last Tactics and Transfers (I’ve been busy, the Blues have been busy…). Chelsea succeeded in signing N’Golo Kante. Antonio Conte has shaped the team to reflect some of his personality and #passion. The pre-season tour is well underway, and the Blues are regaining a little of the identity they were lacking last season.
Chelsea also recently won the ever-coveted title of “most hated team,” putting down those uppity northeners in Manchester who think that all crowns should always belong to them.
Conte appears to have settled once and for all Nemanja Matic’s future. The Serb midfielder will be staying with Chelsea, as he should. Whether he or his teammates take any lessons from this episode will shape morale and motivation for some time to come.
Over-scrutinizing every comment Conte or a player makes to the media opens to the door to some great tactical speculations. We begin in Los Angeles.
Next: Victor Moses is ready for pre-season