Antonio Conte still does not see Michy Batshuayi as Chelsea’s backup striker

Antonio Conte reacted to Alvaro Morata’s injury by bringing on Willian. Apparently the Michy Batshuayi issue is still an issue for Chelsea.

Chelsea faced a worst-case scenario 35 minutes into their fixture with Manchester City. Stamford Bridge watched as the Blues’ (and the Premier League’s) leading scorer hobbled off the pitch. This was a significant psychological blow to the club as well as a tactical one. Morata and Eden Hazard linked up so well on Wednesday, a promising prelude to this Premier League clash.

Antonio Conte dealt another psychological (and, as it turned out, tactical) blow with his substitution. Everyone expected the hero of Wanda Metropolitano, Michy Batshuayi, to do what a backup does: fill in for the starter as necessary. Instead, Conte sent on Willian. And despite opting against a like-for-like substitution, Conte maintained the same formation and tactics.

This is inexplicable. This substitution regresses the conversation, the club and Michy Batshuayi’s career to where it was for all of last season. Antonio Conte clearly does not rate him highly. Or perhaps he does, but only as “the closer” – the 10-minute man who brings the heat.

But even if all the negative things Conte thinks about Michy Batshuayi are true, Willian has done next to nothing this season to warrant his entrance into the game. The highest praise Willian has earned in his few appearances is “better than Pedro.”

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Willian is struggling as a winger in the usual 3-4-3, and did not impress as the shadow striker behind Alvaro Morata in a 3-4-1-1. Yet Conte sent him to replace Chelsea’s top striker, without any change in formation to account for having two wingers up top. Chelsea were headless until Batshuayi came on and presented a target.

Antonio Conte spoke obliquely about the substitution after the game.

"When you play against the type of team who likes to have possession, you have to consider two tactical aspects. You go very high, press and play with great intensity for the whole game, or you must be disciplined to close the space and exploit space in behind their defenders. – Chelsea FC"

Beyond the tactics and formations, Willian is not delivering the fundamentals of a winger. He is attempting few and winning even fewer take-ons, he is not making strong runs and is not finding effective passes. Willian should be battling Charly Musonda for the starting XI, not replacing an injured Alvaro Morata against Manchester City.

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Antonio Conte needs to make his peace with Batshuayi’s presence at Chelsea. No matter the assessment and no matter Conte’s regrets and wishful thinking from the summer transfer window, one simple fact remains: Michy Batshuayi is Chelsea’s only back-up striker.