Three things we learnt from Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over West Ham

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Conte Is Willing To Cut His Cloth Accordingly

In the weeks after Conte’s appointment, many commentators speculated that he would try to implement the 3-5-2 system that proved so successful at Juventus and with Italy. However, last Conte started with a 4-3-3 system that would have been very familiar to the Chelsea players. Rather like his compatriot Claudio Ranieri at Leicester last season, Conte seems reluctant to impose a system of play on players who do not suit it.

Some said that John Terry would suffer under Conte, a coach who typically likes to employ a high defensive line, but Chelsea sat fairly deep in the early stages. In some respects, Conte’s hand has been forced by the players he has available. Chelsea don’t have enough fit centre backs to employ a back three, so he went with the tried and tested back four of Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill, John Terry and Cesar Azpilicueta.

This back four floundered last season, but Conte has a history of working with experienced defences and eking an extra season or two out of such seasoned charges. There were a few nervy moments in the last 15 minutes, and Chelsea will need a few more clean sheets to rebuild defensive confidence and repair the damage of last season.

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