Antonio Conte rebuilt Chelsea once already: He should stay to do it again
By Hugo Amaya
Antonio Conte’s future at Chelsea looks more uncertain than ever. But given his record at the club, is it the right time for the Italian boss to part ways with the Blues? Or are both sides ready to pull the trigger pull prematurely?
Antonio Conte has had a roller coaster time at Chelsea. When he arrived at the club in 2016, everyone was impressed by his credentials and lengthy experience at Juventus and the Italian national team. However, everyone questioned whether he could work with a half-broken team left by his predecessor, Jose Mourinho.
At the beginning of the season, Chelsea were barely winning games. They committed plenty of defensive errors, and relied on late goals to scrounge the three points. Until that famous defeat to Arsenal, the Premier League did not see the genius of Antonio Conte.
Conte changed the formation of the team and, arguably, the Premier League for years to come. He found the balance the team so desperately needed. He gave players like Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso the chance to become stars. Conte sorted out the defense and made the team play to its strengths. And if that wasn’t enough, he gave freedom to the likes of Eden Hazard and Diego Costa. By doing so, he showed he knows what his players can do, once they have the right opportunity. As a result, Chelsea won the league in a fashionable manner.
However, this season, after the Chelsea board fell short – almost to the point of neglect – on signing players Conte requested, discontent erupted. Conte took to the media to let everyone know he is doing his job with what he has. Meanwhile, the board kept giving him rehabilitation projects. And with the lack of depth and quality in the squad, Chelsea have not met their goals this season.
And now the season-defining question has become: should Antonio Conte stay?
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Antonio Conte has done a magnificent job at the club. Regardless of what happens this season, many overlook the fact he won the Premier League a year ago. If that isn’t impressive enough, look at how Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho ended their first year at their respective clubs. The Italian boss is building for the future and has all the qualities to make the team succeed.
The Chelsea manager also brings qualities the club had been missing for a while: class and charisma. When people all over the world think of Chelsea, they see the arrogance and bitterness left by Jose Mourinho in his years as a Blue. Not shaking hands with other managers. Starting feuds with the media. All the childish behavior that translated into insecurities in the dressing room and discontent between the Chelsea players and the manager.
By contrast, Conte brings class and respect. The atmosphere in the press conferences does not make the headlines. A shake of hands is not the main talking point before the game. And the confidence in his players is always high. Surely, these characteristics have made an impact on the fans.
However, the most important part about his job are the tactics and the results. While the results have not been completely present this season the tactics have been spot on. Even in games against Manchester City and Barcelona, where Conte received so much criticism, his approach was not so different from last year’s in big games. In fact, the results in such games would have leaned in Chelsea’s favor if not for individual mistakes. Conte has also solved a lot of defensive problems and settled the midfield into a new formation.
Another aspect that is hardly talked about is how Antonio Conte has handed key players. Gary Cahill has had to fight for his spot in recent games, with Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger more than filling his role. Cesc Fabregas and Willian have had a bigger impact on the field and have provided many solutions for the team.
More importantly, Antonio Conte has given Eden Hazard the chance to prove to everyone that he is one of the best in the world. Hazard has played with all the freedom any offensive player could ever ask for. First as a second striker with Alvaro Morata or Michy Batshuayi. Then, as a false nine with Willian and Pedro right behind him. And, in recent games, as the No. 10 on the wings where he prefers. And even then, Hazard has failed to perform and deliver the goods for Chelsea. This is surely not down to the manager, but the player himself.
Conte has done his job at the club so far. Even if the expectations are high, he is a man who will fight tooth and nail to achieve the results. One mediocre season where things did not go his way for reasons out of his hands does not mean he is not the right fit.
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The way Conte is shaping the team, if he were to stay, next season is holding a lot of promise for everyone at the club. If big-name players leave, Antonio Conte is the man to rebuild a cohesive squad, rather than a team supporting a super star.