If training is anything to go by, Antonio Conte seemed to be laying out his strongest eleven as Chelsea prepared for their pre-season curtain-raiser.
With Alvaro Morata and Tiemoue Bakayoko now Chelsea players, fans are spending their time trying to piece together the club’s strongest starting eleven. Antonio Conte may have dropped some hints on Thursday as the Blues prepared for their pre-season game against Arsenal.
Two distinct teams were set up in training with one donning bibs. One side distinctly looked like a feasible starting eleven.
The bib team is definitely the one of interest. Firstly, it is still laid out in the 3-4-3 formation that the Blues utilised last season. Expectations are that Conte will ultimately shift to a 3-5-2, but the current personnel cannot accommodate that shape.
Moreover, Andreas Christensen was used alongside Cesar Azpilicueta and Gary Cahill. Antonio Rudiger is due to join the club after the Arsenal game and the defence is where there is most uncertainty.
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Gary Cahill has been named club captain, so he may not be completely sidelined as some may have thought. Having said that, John Terry was also club captain last season and yet he spent the bulk of the season on the bench.
What does this mean for Christensen, though? The Dane seriously impressed while on his two-year loan spell with Borussia Monchengladbach. Fans have been hoping for his involvement this season. The arrival of Rudiger caused some to believe that Christensen would push for an exit, but perhaps this suggests that Conte has a significant role for him.
Further up the field, it is very much as one would expect. The senior squad players are in bibs while the youngsters are on the other side. David Luiz has probably been put on the non-bib side to even matters up and impart some wisdom. Loic Remy, meanwhile, is due to leave the Blues. Alvaro Morata will only fly out once his deal has been formally concluded while Tiemoue Bakayoko is injured, which explains their absences.
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What do you think of these teams? Are you going to bother speculating? Or shall we wait until the season starts? Sound off in the comments below!