Chelsea must build on Stoke rout and continue winning with rotated squads

Chelsea and Stoke chose their starting lineups more concerned about their next games than the matter at hand at Stamford Bridge. The Blues’ under-used players did most of the heavy lifting against Mark Hughes’ XI of players on either side of their prime years.

With the first of three games against Arsenal ahead on Wednesday, Antonio Conte played the minimum necessary XI to secure three points. Four of Chelsea’s starters were from outside the Blues most-used XI, and two had played less than half the available Premier League minutes this season. It was the first game this particular squad played together. Including substitutes, three of Chelsea’s five least-used players spent 20 minutes or more on the pitch.

And even that was overkill. Four of Chelsea’ five goals came from outside the most-used XI. Davide Zappacosta and Danny Drinkwater are two of those least-used players, and they both scored their first Premier League goals for the Blues.

Stoke took a similar approach. While Antonio Conte played a light XI in preparation for a much stronger opponent in a pivotal top-six clash, Mark Hughes played a light XI in preparation for a more beatable opponent in a pivotal relegation-avoidance clash. Stoke’s starting lineup featured two teenagers and five players in their 30’s.

Chelsea did not want to tax themselves for a win, and Stoke did not want to tax themselves for a loss. Not with Arsenal and Newcastle looming, respectively. Jamie Carragher will be having none of this.

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Gamesmanship vs entertainment debate aside, Chelsea must build off their rout against Stoke to continue to win with rotated and attenuated squads. Despite the festive period being over, Chelsea’s schedule will not lighten up. The Blues have seven matches in three competitions in January. And after facing only one top-half team in the preceding eight match-days, they now face two in one month: Arsenal and Leicester.

The Blues won three and drew once against their January opponents in the earlier fixture, but Leicester, Bournemouth and Brighton will come into these matches on more rest than the Blues, who must contend with the Carabao Cup.

But just as Antonio Conte looked beyond Stoke and crafted his gameplan with Arsenal in mind, for the next six weeks he will increasingly make decisions through the lens of February 20 – March 3. In those 11 days Chelsea will open the Champions League knock-out rounds against Barcelona, and then face both Manchester clubs away. Antonio Conte will need his absolute best XI both rested and match-sharp for each of those games.

That means Antonio conte must be able to rely on Davide Zappacosta, Danny Drinkwater and Willian to give Chelsea the win just as he relies on Alvaro Morata and Eden Hazard. Three points are three points, regardless of the opponent. The Blues’ back-ups have as much at stake and as much of a role in the final standings and trophy count as the best XI.

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Most opponents will not make it as easy as Stoke did. Regardless, Chelsea’s little-seen players filled their role to perfection and set the Blues into 2018 on the right note.