Chelsea vs. Swansea City: Predicted 4-1-4-1 lineup features new arrivals
Chelsea travels to Swansea for their first game after the transfer deadline. How will Antonio Conte make use of his new signings against the Swans?
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 15: General view of the stadium interior prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge on August 15, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United via Getty Images)
Chelsea brings a perfect record into Sunday’s match as they kick off a much more challenging run of opponents than they faced early in the season. With a fair number of Blues on international duty, Antonio Conte has had limited time to experiment with new formations and the new arrivals.
Conte will send out both of his new defensive signings so Chelsea’s new backline can develop their chemistry and timing. The introductions on defence will mean less willingness to experiment up the pitch. Michy Batshuayi will have to wait for his first Chelsea start.
Thibaut Courtois
13, Belgium
The easiest choice Antonio Conte gets to make. Courtois has yet to be challenged by an opponent or teammate this season. Until that changes the Belgian will take his usual place between the pipes.
Defence
LB
Marcos Alonso
3, Spain
Marcos Alonso will get his first start on his Chelsea debut. Antonio Conte will not want to wait for Liverpool, Leicester City or Arsenal to give his new backline match experience. Watch for Alonso playing more of a left wingback role than a traditional left-back for clues to how Conte plans to evolve Chelsea’s defence.
David Luiz
30, Brazil
Everything that needs to be said about Luiz has been said. Most importantly, Antonio Conte said Luiz is a defender. He’ll start. Gary Cahill won’t. That is all.
John Terry
26, England
John Terry is really wondering when that “reduced role” will kick in. He will have two “new” faces joining him along the backline. His biggest challenge, that will require all of his captain’s strength, will be keeping David Luiz securely in place as a centre-back. If Luiz starts acting all Luiz, expect some not-family-friendly shouts from John Terry to rein in the Brazilian.
Cesar Azpilicueta
28, Spain
At long last, Cesar Azpilicueta is going home. Azpilicueta will take his natural spot on the right side, sending Branislav Ivanovic to the bench. Expect to see Azpilicueta making more frequent and more aggressive overlap runs down the flank, as he continues his transition towards wingback and maintains the offensive options Ivanovic provided on the right.
Midfield
CDM
N’Golo Kante
7, France
Chelsea fans were happy that the club signed N’Golo Kante early in the transfer window. The front office must be positively relieved that they acquired him for so little. Given what Chelsea paid for David Luiz and Marcos Alonso on deadline day, and what N’Golo Kante has already delivered for the club, he will be at once the most valuable and biggest-bargain player on the pitch.
Nemanja Matic
21, Serbia
Nemanja Matic is somewhere between his 2014/15 greatness and his 2015/16 lameness. He is reasserting control over his space, but N’Golo Kante is taking over much of his old role. Look for him to be exploring his options more as Kante sets deep, allowing Matic to join the movement forward.
Oscar
8, Brazil
Oscar’s two-way play so far this season proves that he is serious about his place in Antonio Conte’s formations. He and N’Golo Kante suffocated Burnley in the midfield. The duo demonstrated the power of having two box-to-box midfielders working in a pincer-like movement. Oscar’s strategic and spatial awareness is higher than ever, which has him locked into Conte’s plans.
Willian
22, Brazil
Willian will get the start, but Antonio Conte will be paying close attention to the Brazilian’s focus and intensity. Willian posted a heart-wrenching photo to Instagram of his mother, who is undergoing chemotherapy in Brazil. Willian’s mind may understandably be elsewhere. Conte is enough of a man-manager to know this, and will adjust accordingly (and empathetically).
Eden Hazard
10, Belgium
Eden Hazard did not have the international break he would have wanted, but his form with Chelsea is exactly where it needs to be. His much-reported comments that Antonio Conte “knows how to treat players” is less about Mourinho and more about his – and the Blues’ – willingness to play for the manager and the shirt.
Attack
ST
Diego Costa
19, Spain
Diego Costa has four goals in three starts for club and country, nabbing a brace for Spain over Liechtenstein. The striker is hot, and he is playing with a Conte-esque level of #passion. As long as he can continue to avoid that second yellow card, he will be leading Chelsea’s line for the full 90 minutes.
Do you think this is too many or too few new faces in the Starting XI? Let us know in the comments below!
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