Why 2016 Will Be Remembered as the Year of Antonio Conte at Chelsea

Chelsea have changed; they are Antonio Conte’s club now.

After a disastrous first six months of 2016, the Italian has acted quickly to reshape the Blues in his vision. From failures to Premier League leaders, his impact has been incredible. Chelsea’s fortunes have been transformed and now we’re looking at them as the unlikeliest of title favourites.

A club of their resources shouldn’t have that label put on them. Say it out loud and it sounds ridiculous. They’re bankrolled by Roman Abramovich’s vast fortune, and we shouldn’t forget that as recently as 2015, they were being crowned English football’s finest.

The 12 months that preceded Conte’s arrival were truly a disaster, however. It’s been so well-documented that it’s pointless to enter into how and why it happened. But crash and burn, Chelsea most certainly did.

Chelsea: WWWWWWWWWWWW pic.twitter.com/QKNMQSCooq

— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) December 26, 2016

When Jose Mourinho departed for a second time as manager, we were left wondering where the club was headed. The future looked bleak, the squad was burned out; stars were fading. So bad had the situation become, predictions of Europa League qualification this term were marking a successful campaign.

It was always going to take a strong character and an even better tactician to negotiate that minefield. That Conte has not only done that but achieved it in just six months—on the back of a European Championship campaign with Italy, thus limiting his pre-season impact—makes it all the more remarkable.

Abramovich and the Chelsea board have pulled off the deal of the century by persuading Conte to join them when he did. Mourinho’s regime of old has become a distant memory. It’s Conte’s name that is sung at Stamford Bridge these days. Guus …

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