Focus on Batshuayi

Michy Batshuayi is expected to start the season on the bench, but can he still make a big impact for Chelsea? WhoScored.com look at the stats ahead of the Blues’ Monday Night Football clash with West Ham…

When it was confirmed that Antonio Conte would take over as Chelsea manager following Euro 2016, many speculated that the Italian would make big changes, implementing a three-man defence that would allow him to deploy two strikers. Instead, it has been a quiet summer at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues only adding two new signings.

N’Golo Kante was the first, joining for £32m from Leicester, and the second was Belgian frontman Michy Batshuayi. The 22-year-old, who scored 17 Ligue 1 goals in his final season at Marseille, rejected Monday’s opponents West Ham as well as a number of suitors across the continent to join Chelsea. But while Kante has been a regular starter in pre-season, Conte’s persistence with a 4-2-3-1 system has limited Batshuayi’s starting chances.

While reports consistently link Diego Costa with a move away from Stamford Bridge, the former Atletico Madrid man remains the Blues’ primary front man. And with Conte largely opting for a lone striker, Batshuayi has had to settle for an impact role. Indeed, all five of his appearances in pre-season have come from the bench, which hints at what’s to come for the Belgian this season.

Batshuayi hasn’t underwhelmed, though. While he’s yet to hit the back of the net for his new team, the …

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