Take a look at our predicted lineup for yesterday’s game against Liverpool and you’ll see Tiemoue Bakayoko lined up with N’Golo Kante and Cesc Fabregas, just as Antonio Conte had on his teamsheet.
The Chelsea manager has shown a great preference for playing the 352 where he sacrifices one of his front three for an extra midfielder, whenever he thinks he can get away with it.
He’s also shown a great patience towards Bakayoko, a patience has hasn’t shown in many other aspects of his management.
Whenever possible, he’s given his midfield signing a chance to shown what he can do, or at least try and make up for a preceding catastrophe.
In yesterday’s game it worked well, at last, and Bakayoko played well enough to give him a real shot in the arm, and hopefully a boost in confidence that will take him through the rest of the season.
It’s too little too late, but more good showings will send us into this summer with more optimism about the former Monaco man’s future.
