Former Chelsea boss Ruud Gullit has been speaking to the BBC ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup final, but it was his words about Antonio Conte rather than about the final itself that were most revealing.
Breaking the match down tactically, Gullit looks at how Chelsea can hurt Manchester United in tomorrow’ season closing clash at Wembley. He identifies Eden Hazard as an obvious outlet, but recalls that Mourinho was able to nullify the Belgian in last season’s Easter Sunday game by man-marking him with Ander Herrera.
When it comes to changing things, Conte is hardly known for his versatility. As Gullit notes here, it was the game against Manchester City in March that saw many fans – and the Dutchman himself – lose faith in Conte as he failed to change things despite the battering his team were getting.
“That day was crucial for me,” Gullit said. “Conte did not change anything even when Chelsea were a goal down and being played off the park.
In the end the game finished 1-0, but it genuinely could have been 2 or 3, and the Blues never got out of first gear. Conte, known for his tactical prowess, was stumped. If that happens again tomorrow, there will be little sympathy for the Italian.
