3 things Conte must do for Chelsea to beat West Ham
The games are coming thick and fast for Chelsea…
After a convincing victory against Man Utd at the weekend, the Blues face a tough test against West Ham next, as Antonio Conte looks to progress in the EFL Cup.
With such a quick turnaround from the game on Sunday, we’re expecting a host of changes to Antonio Conte’s first team – and that will no doubt play a role in how he approaches the game.
West Ham, despite their poor form, will be no pushovers – and Antonio Conte must be switched on tactically if he wishes to come away from the game with a victory.
With that said, here are 3 things Antonio Conte must do for Chelsea to beat West Ham…
Play Batshuayi
Batshuayi hasn’t had much of a look in at Chelsea yet, but the West Ham game should represent an excellent opportunity to give the Belgian a run out from the start.
He has looked good when given a chance, particularly in the EFL Cup, and you would expect him to stake a claim to start in the Premier League next weekend.
With Diego Costa just 1 yellow card away from suspension, Batshuayi will need to be ready to fill in when the times comes; and Conte must prepare him for that inevitability against West Ham.
Utilise the Youth
This one is a given, but Antonio Conte must use the EFL Cup as an opportunity to give the youth a chance.
Players like Nathaniel Chalobah, Ola Aina and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have found their opportunities limited in recent weeks – the EFL Cup represents an excellent chance to get them in the first team.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, in particular, needs a good performance – after falling down the pecking order under Antonio Conte.
Revert to a 4-2-3-1
This one is a controversial one, as Chelsea have been doing fantastically in a 3-4-3 – but Antonio Conte will need to revert back to a regular 4-2-3-1 formation in the EFL Cup.
A change in personnel is expected, and the Blues aren’t blessed with depth – particularly defensively.
In order to best suit the players coming in, a more familiar formation will no doubt be required. It shouldn’t effect the Blues too much, and a dominant victory will still be expected.