Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte has revealed he has not given the January transfer window any thought and he’s not planning to spend big money. The Italian is focused on improving the players at his disposal in the present.
The 46-year-old Chelsea manager has endured a difficult few weeks in London as his side suffered back-to-back defeats in the Premier League campaign to Arsenal and Liverpool.
The latest rumours claimed that Italian boss has already begun plans for major spending once the transfer window reopens in winter, but the former Juventus manager has dismissed those suggestions.
During his interview ahead of the Hull City clash, Conte said: “I don’t see January, an opportunity to spend money. Now I see the present and the opportunity to improve.
‘We must think about the present now rather than think about spending money in the future.’
Was this the Chelsea of the future? Everybody has the same question in mind after Hull win. Seven Premier League matches into his reign as manager, chastened by back-to-back defeats against Liverpool and Arsenal, Antonio Conte decided the time had come to deploy one of the tactical fundamentals of the hat-trick of Italian Serie A titles he won with Juventus.
Against Hull, out went the back four of his opening six games, to be replaced with a back three in a compact 3-4-2-1 system. There was no place, as widely predicted, for the previously seemingly untouchable Branislav Ivanovic, nor for Cesc Fabregas, who had been recalled against Arsenal only to be hauled off after 55 minutes.
Marcos Alonso, experienced in the role at Fiorentina, came in for his first Premier League start as left wing-back, with Cesar Azpilicueta moving into the centre alongside David Luiz and Gary Cahill. The surprise was Conte’s choice at right wing-back, where Victor Moses, not known for his defensive qualities, was outstanding.
It was not a performance without weaknesses, by a long chalk. N’Golo Kante, a tireless workhorse in midfield, had arguably his best game so far in a Chelsea shirt, but he needs someone of greater pace and vision than Nemanja Matic alongside him.
Conte will not have to wait long for bigger tests. After the international break come back-to-back home matches against Leicester and Manchester United.