Alvaro Morata’s goal was the difference for Chelsea as Antonio Conte made it 3 from 3 against Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge. Here are 5 things we learned.
Chelsea headed into the match on the back of a disastrous performance in Rome. Manchester United, meanwhile, were coming off a good win over Benfica in the Champions League. Antonio Conte needed a response from his team and that’s exactly what he received on Sunday as Chelsea won the match comfortably. Here are the takeaways from the encounter.
1. The balance Kante brings to the team in invaluable
There is a reason why N’Golo Kante was voted as the best player in the country last season. The difference he brings to the team is immense. He is a very important cog in Antonio Conte’s system.
His presence took Chelsea to another level which helped Tiemoue Bakayoko and Cesc Fabregas play their natural game. He also nullified United’s attacks from the middle which helped ease the pressure on Chelsea’s defenders and wingbacks.
Without Kante, the Blues are limited to a top four finish. With the Frenchman in the midfield, Chelsea could beat any of Europe’s finest on their day.
2. Christensen brought calmness into the back three
Andreas Christensen was brought into the team in place of David Luiz, who had a horror show against AS Roma. Unlike Luiz he is much more calm and composed which really helped Chelsea’s defence as they were shipping in plenty of goals prior to this match.
His presence helped Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta to have full control and confidence in their roles as well. Romelu Lukaku was only able to touch the ball once inside Chelsea’s penalty box. Everything United tried to throw at Chelsea was cleared effectively.
Blues fans have been clamouring to see Christensen get more starts. On the back of a turbulent week, Conte was left with little option but to start the big Dane. Fortunately, the youngster showed a maturity and composure much beyond his 21 years. Christensen can truly be a great defender for the club.
Can he replicate John Terry’s career? He has certainly made a decent enough start.
3. Azpilicueta and Morata are a dangerous duo
Yesterday was the 5th time this season Cesar Azpilicueta provided an assist for Alvaro Morata – that makes them the most potent partnership in the Premier League this term. As Morata later revealed, he had asked Azpilicueta to help him out before the game.
Having linked up in such a specific manner on four previous occasions, Morata was relying on his countryman to help break his goal drought. Azpilicueta came to his teammate’s aid with a sumptuous delivery. Morata applied the perfect finish.
Morata was back to his best after a couple of below par outings. He was putting himself about, not shying away from physical confrontations and making the runs that define the success of a lone striker. If he had been a little more careful in his end product he could have scored more.
Jose Mourinho stated that he had prepared his team for an Azpilicueta-Morata connection. However, they were powerless to prevent it happening. Expect this dangerous duo to continue their fruitful relationship.
4. Bakayoko can be unstoppable if he could sort out his finishing
Bakayoko was really determined to prove his worth against Manchester United especially considering that Nemanja Matic was lining up opposite him.
The Serbian really struggled to keep up with Chelsea’s midfield, but Bakayoko was a focal point for the Blues. Throughout the first half the Frenchman found himself amongst the action, carrying balls from deep and winning midfield challenges.
Unfortunately, Bakayoko’s lack of experience was evident in his decision making. Whether it was a pass or an attempt on goal, the new signing couldn’t quite execute it to the required standard. His finishing, for example, was appalling.
Nevertheless, this is certainly a net positive for Chelsea and the midfielder. Bakayoko was dominant in the match and showed great potential.
5. Conte still has the backing of his players
Despite reports about issues within the team after the midweek loss, the players showed they are fully behind Antonio Conte. They were focused, determined and hungry. David Luiz was dropped on the back of his Roma performance and rumoured confrontation with the boss. However, he cut nothing but a supportive figure behind the bench.
The players on the field, meanwhile, played like the Chelsea who romped to Premier League success last season. There was pure hard-work and effort on display. With Manchester United sprinting out of the blocks, the Blues could have easily crumbled. After all, that is what teams ravaged by conflict and controversy do, right?
Chelsea let their performance do the talking for them. At least for the moment, they trust in Conte and are willing to show their commitment on the field. Having said that, you can’t ignore that all is not well behind the scenes. Conte, for instance, was mysterious when talking about Luiz’s West London future after the game.
Next: Conte may be reaching the end of his tether with David Luiz
What did you learn from the game? Let us know in the comments below!