Ahead of every English season every manager tries to showcase his team as best among the rests but sometimes when a manager takes the charge of a highly demotivated side, he fears of failure more than others especially if he is leading one of the leading English sides. Chelsea’s newly appointed boss Antonio Conte is one such pro who suspects Blues failure in the coming season as well if he could not revive their confidence both in and out of the field. This is actually true in a sense as North Londoners have had several mess ups in the dressing room itself last year then how can they deliver their hundred percent in the field. Chelsea’s Saturday 3-2 loss to Real Madrid in an International Champions Cup game sent a loud and clear warning to the Italian boss about what is ahead for him in the English topflight. He showed his concerns over the defense that was ruled by the Real forward line scoring three goals in a flat18-minute spell in the first half that took the game out of Blues reach despite Eden Hazard’s affords to equalize the edge with two goals having an inexperienced Real players in the field.
Talking about their performance, 46-year-old said in post-match press conference, “I know it’s not easy to play this game against another great club after only two days of rest, and after a flight of four hours and a half. I know this because I knew the team was a bit tired. But today, I think that this match is very important for us because after this game it’s clear that we have to work together always — without the ball and with the ball — because if we think that we can’t work together when we don’t have the ball, it’s not possible for us. It’s not possible, and we risk to repeat a bad season. Today, I think we weren’t a team in defensive situations. It’s important because in the last game, I appreciated a lot our defensive situation and I told also that we can improve when we have the ball. Today, better with the ball, but bad without the ball.”
Adding about Hazard performance who entered into the field in the 67th minute and shredded away two goals in no time, he said, “Hazard, he’s recovering the good shape. I liked him in this position, like a forward. I think he can be a good solution for us. Also to play winger but also to play like a second forward. He must improve his, but he’s working, he’s working. He knows that his shape can improve a lot, in the same way as the other players.”
Antonio Conte: Marco Iacobucci EPP / Shutterstock.com