Are Chelsea Better off with Antonio Conte in Charge?

It depends on perspective as to whether or not Antonio Conte has been an early success or failure at Chelsea.

A club of the Blues’ size and stature doesn’t allow for anything between those margins. Managers either make a difference and are successful, or they get the chop and disappear into the ether. As we’ve seen with Roman Abramovich, not many fall into the former category.

The jury remains out on Conte. There is a large group of Blues supporters who are advocating the principle of time being afforded to the Italian; then there are others frustrated with the manner in which Chelsea lost to Liverpool and Arsenal last month.

Given how Chelsea have struggled this past year, it’s difficult to judge how well Conte’s methods are working at Stamford Bridge right now. Do we attribute those defeats to a previous regime? Or are they a sign of the former Juventus coach’s failings as a manager?

The definitive answer will become clearer as the season progresses, but looking at Chelsea’s first seven league games under Conte’s leadership, we can still form something tangible that resembles a sound judgement.

In the same matches last season, home or away against West Ham United, Watford, the promoted Championship champions Bournemouth (this season Burnley), Swansea City, Liverpool, Arsenal and the promoted Championship play-off winners Norwich City (this season Hull City), the Blues picked up just eight points.

Of those seven matches, Chelsea won just twice—against Arsenal and Norwich. At home they were defeated by Bournemouth and Liverpool, drawing with West Ham; away they drew with Watford, but lost to Swansea.

In the corresponding fixtures this term, Chelsea are well up—by five points in fact—and it means things are looking far more positive under Conte.

Sure, the 1-0 victory against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last season has now become a 3-0 loss in 2016/17, but other than that, results are showing improvement. Chelsea have doubled their victories against the same opposition from two to four, with the loss to Liverpool the only other game showing there has been zero progress.

Given that Chelsea’s two defeats this term came against sides who are established under their managers, it’s hardly a shock, either. Remember, Conte’s team is still largely comprised of the same players …

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