Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte, has admitted that their back-to-back defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal, helped him re-strategize and put their season back on track.
Ever since losing to the Gunners, the Blues have gone on an 11-game winning run and put them seven points clear at the top of the table.
Before the 3-0 loss at Arsenal, Chelsea were beaten 2-1 at home by Liverpool.
“After the defeat against Liverpool, and also against Arsenal, it changed something in me, in the players, in the club,” the Italian said, in comments published by British newspapers on Monday.
“We understood the way to go and have a different season, compared to last season. It was different.
“For this reason, we found the right solution, formation, but also to improve the quality of the work in all aspects. After these two bad games, we changed a lot.”
Much of Conte’s success so far, has been hinged on a switch to a 3-4-3 fomation during the second half of the defeat at Arsenal on September 24.
“Before the game against Liverpool, I understood our formation wasn’t good to face Liverpool, tactically, and we paid for this,” he said.
“Also, against Arsenal, I said to change, because now we are playing with three central defenders.
“In the history of Chelsea, this never happened, no? To change it totally, this situation, is not easy. You must go slowly, slowly, and to put the idea (across).
“In my mind, and also before the games against Liverpool, there was the will to change, but I waited until the right moment.
“You always hope not to make great changes to the team. I have players that had only played with four (in defence).”
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