Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte has admitted that he has been experimenting with the centre-midfield partnerships this season and has hinted at a formation change.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has been trying different centre-midfield partnerships this season while also experimenting with the 3-5-2 and 3-4-3 formation.
Conte has mainly used Cesc Fabregas, N’Golo Kante and Tiemoue Bakayoko in a three-man midfield formation this season but has hinted at a change for the upcoming Arsenal match.
Danny Drinkwater and N’Golo Kante started together for the first time in a two-man midfield against Stoke since they both partnered together for Leicester in their 2015/16 Premier League title winning season.
And Conte admitted that the two worked fantastically well together in the 5-0 mauling of Stoke recently whilst Cesc Fabregas and Tiemoue Bakayoko were relegated (or rested) to the bench.
“For me I spoke with them [Kante and Drinkwater] and for many reasons we waited five months to see the same couple of players that won the title with Leicester.
“I think this is another option, a good option when we decided to play with the two players. I tried to explore, to see the different options – Baka with Cesc, Baka with N’Golo, Drinkwater with Kante today.”
Conte added: “When we decided to play with two centre midfielders, to see again these players, it was good, it was positive. ‘Now Danny has to continue to work and improve his form.”
The Italian boss could use the two-man midfield again in their upcoming match against Arsenal which will mean that either Pedro or Willian will likely start in a three-man attack.
Conte used the 3-4-3 formation last season which helped Chelsea to the Premier League title but has been deploying a 3-5-2 formation this time around.
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