After returning to club football this summer, Antonio Conte took the hot seat at Chelsea Football Club with a lot of pressure on his back at the early stages of the season. Back-to-back defeats against Liverpool and Arsenal raised suspicions of the former Italy manager’s capability of raising the Blues back to the title race from the 10th position where they finished last season.
The suspicions, however, have been proven wrong with an outstanding seven-game winning streak in the league, conceding just once in that time, to lift Chelsea on top the Premier League table.
Gianfranco Zola, a Chelsea legend and a former Italian manager, has hailed the Blues boss’s recent work at the club. Rejuvenating the team’s best players and accommodating his preferred 3-4-3 formation for the squad – a lot can be given in his honor.
In an interview for William Hill at Stamford Bridge, Zola expressed his delight with his former side’s stunning form and rise to the top of the league.
He’s done very well, very, very good. It wasn’t an easy job but so far he’s doing a really remarkable job. He works very hard and it’s good to see somebody working hard doing very well.
I was watching the game against Arsenal and towards the end he went to a 3-5-2 system and they looked more balanced. So when he changed it I believe it was the right thing to do.
It’s the perfect shape for the team. In a way I’m not surprised and to be honest he’s put a lot of work in it for it to be successful.
Chelsea were crowded as Premier League champions in the season of 2014/15, but went through an abysmal campaign right after, when José Mourinho ran out of ideas with his Chelsea side.
Many star players like Eden Hazard and Diego Costa were only the shadow of themselves last season, but Zola states how well Conte has reintegrated the team spirit and form this season.
I cannot make any comparison to Jose Mourinho but I know that Conte works with them physically and tactically and it seems to me that the players are responding.
Eden Hazard is an example. I’m glad because it means that when you work it means that results are coming your way.
Next up for Chelsea will be Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who follow the table-topping Blues by just one point alongside Liverpool. Zola believes that the club’s current form is key to three points from the Premier League fixture at Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The performance of the team will determine the result. These days nobody gives anything away they are just prepared. If you want to win any game you will have to play at your best.
I’m expecting both teams to go and make the game. Both teams will want to enjoy the play. So it will be a good game and I’m looking forward to it.
