The rumours had been making the rounds for weeks but it has finally been confirmed that current Italy national team manager, Antonio Conte, will be Chelsea's boss next season. He will take the reins at Chelsea after his Euro 2016 campaign with Italy. Conte was not the only candidate for the job, two others were also rumoured to have been in consideration - Diego Simeone and Max Allegri. The three world class managers are similar in three distinct ways - their teams are tactically disciplined, mentally strong and are simply just hard to beat. This tells you that Mr. Abramovich knows exactly what his team's problems have been this season and it's difficult to disagree with his diagnosis. With the recruitment of Antonio Conte, he has found a solution to these problems.
Chelsea have been deplorable for the better part of this season, spending most of it languishing at the bottom third of the table but now sit tenth on the table with seven matches left to play so you could say Guus Hiddink, brought in to steady the ship after Jose Mourinho was sacked, has successfully done just that. The Chelsea defence, their most dependable department last season, has been in a shambles this season. It's probably the most surprising part of what has been a forgettable season for the Blues and their fans. Their incoming manager, who won three consecutive Serie A titles with Juventus, will be sure to fix their defensive shortcomings before anything else. The veteran trio of Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini, deployed as the back line in a 3-5-2 formation, were key to Conte's success with the Bianconeri. The 46-year-old Italian is now known to prefer that system.
Hazard and Costa after the Everton game. (Pic: Chelsea-news.co)
Most people are of the opinion that he may bring one or more of the aforementioned trio (all current Italy internationals) to Chelsea with him but I think he has the right personnel ready and waiting for him at Stamford Bridge. I'm talking about Gary Cahill, John Terry, Kurt Zouma and Branislav Ivanovic. Playing any three of the four in a 3-man back line has more advantages than disadvantages for all parties involved. Ivanovic has been atrocious at right-back (his natural position) this season. At 32 years of age, one could say that maybe age has caught up with him and he has lost some of his pace but he can still do an excellent job at center-back with his aerial prowess, strong physique and natural defensive instincts. The future of legendary skipper Terry is in doubt at the club as his contract, as of yet, has not been renewed. In my opinion, the impending arrival of Conte should sway those at the upper echelons of the club towards renewing his contract. He is showing, even this season, that he still has a lot to offer. The issue here again is age but Conte clearly has no problems getting the best out of older players. Bonucci, the youngest of the Juventus back three was 27 when Conte left the club and the trio, if fit, will still be his first choice defenders in France this summer. Barzagli, the oldest, is now 34. Young Kurt Zouma essentially usurped Cahill (who is still one of the best defenders in the Premier League and an England international) before he was sidelined with an ACL injury. Conte could even recall Andreas Christensen from his loan at Borussia Monchengladbach, where he has been extremely impressive, to offer a younger option from the bench alongside Matt Miazga who made his Chelsea debut last weekend. For his preferred formation, Conte will certainly be spoilt for choice at the back and should not need to purchase.
John Terry fighting for a new contract at Chelsea (Pic: Sky Sports)
I think he will have a problem in midfield though. The midfielders at his disposal do not suit his system. Arturo Vidal was a colossus in the Juventus midfield with Conte as manager. A tireless box-to-box midfielder, like Conte himself in his playing days with the Old Lady, he was the team's engine and garnered worldwide acclaim. Chelsea lack such a player. Matic comes to mind but he looks like he lacks the pace to get around the pitch in that role and may not have an eye for goal to contribute much up front. Mikel certainly doesn't. In the friendly match between Italy and Germany last week, Conte deployed Montolivo and Motta in the middle of the park and both did not have the legs to keep up with the world champions' slick passing. As a result, the Italians were drubbed 4-1. Conte may have to go into the market and get a player like Vidal. The first name that comes to mind because of his stellar performances this season is N'Golo Kante. He may have found fairytale success with Leicester City as they are on course to win the league this season but I doubt they can repeat this feat next season. The only deterrent is the lack of Champions' League football next season that will come with a move to Chelsea. Wow, Leicester will really be in the Champions' League next season...it's still unbelievable. Anyway, that being said, Chelsea is still a bigger club in world football. Kante could certainly choose to not be myopic and make a long-term investment as I am certain, even more so now with the employment of Conte, that Chelsea will be back fighting for the Champions' League spots next season. Renato Sanches is a player who could also do the Vidal job and is even much younger than Kante at 18 years old. Manchester United look like the favourites to land his signature but it is not a done deal yet. Conte could even go for a player he knows better than the former two, Alessandro Florenzi, a very energetic, technical player who is one of the most versatile players in the world and could even fill in at wing-back (which happens to be used in a 3-5-2 formation). He does seem like a player dedicated to Roma like Totti before him but in the world of football, you never know. Radja Nainggolan, Florenzi's teammate at Roma, will also be a good option.
Arturo Vidal, one of the players being linked to Chelsea (pic: The Express Uk)
Oscar and Willian will have to fight for the third midfield position and attempt to play the Marchisio or Pogba role. Cesc Fabregas, however, must be relaxed and smiling at the news of Conte's appointment as he could well become Chelsea's very own Andrea Pirlo. He is definitely the best if not the only candidate for that role. The two forward positions will probably be filled by Eden Hazard and Diego Costa with Baba Rahman and Azpilicueta as wing-backs. There have been whispers that this could be Hazard's last season at Chelsea, so maybe Loic Remy or Falcao could step into the limelight. An outside thought - Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front with Diego Costa ? Imagine how devastating that could be for opposition defenders. The idea alone terrifies me.
Where will Eden fit in? (Pic: Chelsea-news.co)
This is all just hypothetical though and Antonio Conte could choose to step out of his comfort zone and do something different. He may stick with the current system and personnel and just bring about a change in mindset and mentality. After all, it's the same team that won the league last season and this season may just be a blip. The only problem with Conte is that he failed to make an impact in the Champions' League with Juventus, despite his domestic success but that will not be on his agenda for his first season . His sole focus will be domestic success with the 2012 European Champions and maybe after he has achieved that, he can take them back to the top of Europe. I predict good things for the Conte regime at Chelsea !
This is all just hypothetical though and Antonio Conte could choose to step out of his comfort zone and do something different. He may stick with the current system and personnel and just bring about a change in mindset and mentality. After all, it's the same team that won the league last season and this season may just be a blip. The only problem with Conte is that he failed to make an impact in the Champions' League with Juventus, despite his domestic success but that will not be on his agenda for his first season . His sole focus will be domestic success with the 2012 European Champions and maybe after he has achieved that, he can take them back to the top of Europe. I predict good things for the Conte regime at Chelsea !
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