Chelsea: Antonio Conte cannot let any player become undroppable

The gap between Chelsea’s best XI and their depth players is widening as the season reaches its crucial stage. This allows some players to believe they are undroppable, a mentality that breeds complacency.

Antonio Conte brought off Eden Hazard for Pedro in the 73′ against Manchester United. Eden Hazard was not the worst player in Blue at Old Trafford, but he was nowhere near the level Chelsea needed him. The gap between capability and output arguably was greater for Hazard than any other player. Hazard was visibly displeased to come off, though, and Chelsea fans agreed in their typically erudite way on social media.

The reaction to Hazard’s substitution laid bare how dependent many people feel Chelsea are on Eden Hazard. The argument that Hazard was Chelsea’s second-most threatening player behind Willian says as much about Alvaro Morata, and ignores the vast gap between Willian and Hazard at Old Trafford. Hazard’s performance was closer to Morata’s than Willian’s.

For starters, and it should go without saying, managers do not make substitutions in reverse order of performance quality. Victor Moses had a worse outing than Hazard. But substituting the right wing-back while at 1-1 would not have been the best option to pursue the win.

Chelsea needed a new attacking option. We would have preferred Olivier Giroud for Alvaro Morata, but that is not the point. Hazard was not giving Manchester United much to think about, let alone the nightmares he should be inflicting on Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof. He was on the scoresheet with an assist on Willian’s goal, but had done little since. And his assist was incidental to Willian’s effort for the goal. Willian began the play in one box and finished it in other. The pass did not require anything unique to Eden Hazard.

Must Read: Chelsea need more players like Willian to play for the badge

Antonio Conte attributed the substitution to Hazard not being able to maintain his first-half pace. He gave a classic Conte explanation: tactful and true, with the tact shadowing the truth. By bringing off Eden Hazard, Conte sent a message – perhaps incidentally – to his players and the world: If Eden Hazard can come off, so can you.

Hazard had 73 minutes to take charge of the game. If you are placing your hopes on an out-of-nowhere moment of brilliance to salvage an otherwise forgettable performance, Pedro has his own record of doing just that. He at least offered fresh legs and something other than what Manchester United had comfortably accustomed themselves to in those 73 minutes.

This is how Conte wants to manage his teams, and this underlies his transfer requests. He wants to be two-deep at every position, not only to minimize the disruptions caused by injuries but to ensure he does not become dependent on any one player to fulfill a given role. His requests for central-midfielders, wing-backs and a new striker reflected Chelsea’s most pressing tactical needs.

These were also the areas where the Blues most needed intra-squad competition. Marcos Alonso seemingly responded to mere transfer rumours with aggressive performances to stake his claim against then-unsigned replacements. Most, though, know Conte’s precarious situation just as acutely as he does.

Chelsea’s winger situation appeared stable at the outset of the season, but diminished as Chelsea entered the festive period. Pedro’s inconsistency became consistent under-performance. Eden Hazard was spending more time as a false-nine than as a proper winger given Alvaro Morata’s injuries.

Must Read: Chelsea's cursed shirt: 5 terrible players who have worn No. 9 for the Blues

Willian responded impeccably, but his teammates have not followed his example. Morata seems satisfied with the “if he’s fit, he starts” approach. And with Morata back, Hazard returns to the wing without much fear of Pedro – let alone Callum Hudson-Odoi – taking his place with anything less than a two-goal lead.

Eden Hazard needs Antonio Conte to rattle his cage at this point in the season. If Hazard is struggling under the pressures of Chelsea, he should stay far away from Real Madrid. Real Madrid may keep their distance, though, if they see how fragile his motivation is in the big games.

Alvaro Morata is at Chelsea precisely because of how Real Madrid treat barely-off-the-cusp players. Hazard and Morata should have several heart-to-heart talks to appreciate the opportunities they have at Chelsea and commit themselves to earning their place under Antonio Conte. Otherwise, Conte will be entirely justified from a tactical and man-management perspective to sit his Ballon d’Or hopeful next to his club record signing on the bench in upcoming games.

Next: Player ratings vs. United: Willian, Kante deserved more from their teammates

The Chelsea board did not match Conte’s January requests, other than perhaps Olivier Giroud. Now his best XI is solidifying by default rather than merit. The board let Conte down, and now he has limited options across the pitch and a culture of complacency seeping in at the club.