After beating Middlesbrough by a goal to nil, Chelsea are the new leaders of the Premier League at the end of gameweek 12.
Six wins in a row, 17 goals scored and not a single one conceded – it has been a serious purple patch for Antonio Conte’s side. After finishing tenth last campaign, few could have predicted the Blues’ recent form, but they have been exceptional.
Chelsea News have chosen three key reasons why Chelsea are playing so well at the moment under the management of Antonio Conte.
Revitalised stars
Both Eden Hazard and Diego Costa has seasons to forget last time around, but they have been exceptional so far in this one. Hazard has scored seven goals in his opening 12 Premier League appearances and is playing as well as he ever has in a Chelsea shirt. Costa has directly contributed to 13 goals in 12 games, scoring ten and providing three assists. Their contributions have been pivotal in Chelsea’s success in the past six games.
3-4-3
There were question marks when Antonio Conte arrived at Stamford Bridge as to whether he would introduce his favoured three-at-the-back system, but initially he didn’t. It took a poor spell of form from his side to make the change, and it has paid off. Chelsea are yet to concede a goal since switching to 3-4-3, and look far more threatening in attack. The decision to change the formation was an absolute masterstroke from the Italian.
No fixture congestion
Chelsea did not qualify for this season’s Champions League campaign, but that is proving to be a blessing in disguise. They now have a week to recover from Premier League games and look far more fresh for it. Conte has been able to name the same starting eleven for five games in a row, something that no Chelsea manager has ever managed in the Premier League era. He has a fleet of fully fit players at his disposal, and it is paying off on the field.
