Though sterner tests await Antonio Conte’s new-look Chelsea side ahead of the 2016/17 Premier League season, Wednesday’s nights 3-0 victory over Austrian side RZ Pellets highlighted the impact one forgotten Blue might be able to have on this new era at Chelsea.
Speculation over Conte’s desired formation is very much up in the air; the Italian has tried and tested his iconic three-at-the-back to unquestionable success, but when asked on the potential of his new side to adapt to his preferred style of football, the new Chelsea boss was quick to point out that it very much depends on the players he has available to him.
While the way the team lines up will be alternated and different combinations will undoubtedly be tried, one thing we can be sure on is that Conte demands an exceptional work-rate from all of his players.
In Wednesday nights pre-season clash, Victor Moses impressed again as he has done in his last two pre-seasons at Chelsea.
The Nigerian, now 25 years-old, joined the club from Wigan in August 2012. Four seasons down the line, and excluding a ten minute cameo in Chelsea’s defeat to Arsenal in last season’s Community Shield, Moses has not featured for the Blues in any of the last three seasons, following spells with Liverpool, Stoke and West Ham.
Since a promising first season in blue, Moses has impressed away from Stamford Bridge, but very much feels a forgotten man amongst Chelsea fans.
Last summer – just days before his loan move to West Ham was sealed – the 25-year-old signed a new four-year contract with Chelsea.
Now though, the winger seems fitter and stronger than ever and could be a perfect remedy to Chelsea’s disappointment of last term.
He suits Conte’s aggressive and hard-working mannerism, with pace in abundance, a fantastic eye for goal and power when he runs at players.
Many Chelsea fans will feel that the Blues haven’t been clinical enough recently; the way that Hazard moves the ball is mesmerising at times, but there’s no hiding that it didn’t work at points last season. During those moments, Chelsea lacked the direct threat of someone like Moses; Willian can do it too, of course, but the Nigerian is a different player altogether.
His capabilities stretch to a surprising aerial ability and the determination to get back and help defend – another tick for the Conte criteria.
Moses may not use the ball as well as the likes of Eden Hazard at times, but there are no doubts over his enthusiasm and work-rate.
He was deployed on the left hand-side for much of the game on Wednesday night, and offered the team a width that was rarely seen last season, which may be a sign of how Chelsea’s new boss wants to shape the squad.
If he does choose to line-up for much of the season in a similar fashion, with a 4-2-4 when attacking and a 4-4-2 when defending, then Victor Moses could be a surprise inclusion in Conte’s opening Premier League games.
However the next few weeks pan out, there’s no question that this is perhaps Moses’ biggest season of his career; all that’s left to be determined is whether it will be in a blue shirt or not.
