Why has Chelsea experienced a 'resurgence'?

(Baonghean.vn) - A 2-0 victory at Southampton's St Mary's Stadium extended Chelsea's winning streak in the Premier League to four matches. With 22 points, Coach Conte's team is ranked 4th, just one point behind the top three. What has caused the Stamford Bridge team to rise so strongly?

A revolution in tactics

It's no exaggeration to say that the 3-4-3 formation is the fundamental reason behind The Blues' recent resurgence. After painful defeats against Liverpool and Arsenal, manager Conte boldly implemented a tactical revolution at Stamford Bridge.

Coach Antonio Conte. Photo: Internet.

In fact, the three-centre-back formation is the Italian strategist's forte. During his time at Juventus and the Azzurri, Conte always used a three-centre-back defensive system. But that doesn't mean the former Juventus coach mechanically imposed what he learned at his home clubs onto Chelsea.

It's called a "tactical revolution" because, when managing Juventus and the Italian national team, coach Antonio Conte often used his preferred 3-5-2 formation. Now, at Stamford Bridge, he's using a 3-4-3 formation. Of course, each formation has similarities and differences. It's impossible to say which is better; it also depends on the specific conditions, in this case, the personnel.

Therefore, although both use a three-centre-back formation, Chelsea's approach is not the same as Juventus' or the Italian national team's. This shows that, in his philosophy, coach Antonio Conte has implemented a revolution based on the conditions Chelsea currently possesses.

In the history of English football, no manager has ever succeeded with a three-centre-back formation. Unlike Italy, Spain, Germany, and other footballing nations that prioritize tactical prowess, English football is heavily influenced by conservative thinking and lacks innovation.

For a long time, English teams have always assumed that their starting lineup should consist of four players in front of the goal (a pair of central defenders and two full-backs). Therefore, when faced with new formations, English teams often fail due to their poor adaptability. This makes coaches very hesitant, if not impossible, to implement a three-central-defender formation in England. The fact that a man with a big ego like Van Gaal had to abandon the three-central-defender formation at Manchester United after only the first few matches of the 2014-2015 season speaks volumes.

Chelsea had never played with this formation in recent years. Therefore, Conte's use of the 3-4-3 formation was truly a revolution at Stamford Bridge. In the last four Premier League matches, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has not conceded a single goal. Meanwhile, Chelsea's attacking players have scored 11 goals, equivalent to an efficiency of 2.75 goals per game. A team with a solid defense and a sharp attack naturally achieves impressive results.

Hazard's resurgence

"You can't make something out of nothing," and Chelsea under manager Conte are showing excellent form thanks in no small part to the team's success. Within that team, Hazard is seen as the key to unlocking the door to their success. His opening goal against goalkeeper Fraser Forster marked the third consecutive Premier League match in which the Belgian striker scored for Chelsea this year.

Image from the Internet.

Hazard's resurgence is not something new. Since the start of the season, the number 10 has consistently demonstrated his abilities for both Chelsea and the national team. It seems that last season's disastrous run, where he was one of Chelsea's worst-performing players, is no longer haunting Hazard. Hazard's poor form was partly responsible for Chelsea's decline and ultimately led to Mourinho's departure from Stamford Bridge.

Up to this point, after 10 rounds of matches, Hazard has scored 5 goals (an average of 0.5 goals per game). It's worth remembering that in the 2014-2015 Premier League season, when Chelsea won the title and the former Lille player also won the "Premier League Player of the Year" award, he only scored 13 goals (an average of approximately 0.35 goals per game). Comparing those numbers shows that Hazard's current form is comparable to, or even better than, the 2014-2015 season.

It would be too early to say whether Chelsea will win the 2016-2017 Premier League title. But based on what the Stamford Bridge team is showing, it proves that manager Conte's side will be one of the strongest contenders this season.

Le Thanh Hung