With the coveted Premier League title back for a fifth time in their trophy trove, Chelsea have risen to the summit having ensured their passage into next season’s UEFA Champions League. The fact that the Blues have once again inscribed their name on the Premier League trophy is a guarantee that Antonio Conte’s team have managed to restore English clubs’ reputation in Europe’s elite competition. Now they will have the opportunity to build on the success they have enjoyed under the Italian manager.
Chelsea truly owe their title-winning success to Conte. The former Juventus boss knows how to get the best out of his boys and this has once again reflected in how he guided their surge to top. If you add to that, the fact that he is tactically the best there is and that his preparation for games comes close to perfection, you understand just how special a manager he is. Even the great Thierry Henry has acknowledged that the Chelsea manager is a master tactician at Stamford Bridge and believes that he is at the heart of the team’s staggering transformation. Last Friday night will be firmly etched in the memory of Chelsea fans as the Blues roared to glory when Michy Batshuayi scored the winner against West Brom.
If one would rewind this season’s Premier League, Chelsea were 3-0 down to Arsenal at the start and that’s when it looked like it was going to be a ‘long season’ at Stamford Bridge. But Antonio Conte stuck to his task and did a brilliant job to turn Chelsea’s fortunes around to such stunning effect that he vindicated his philosophy that hard work backed by a solid tactical plan can prove to be an ideal recipe for success. And that’s how he masterminded Chelsea’s title aspirations.
As the week unwinds, Stamford Bridge will be bathed in blue celebrating the league success while the bosses will be ready to spend lavishly this summer as they would be preparing for Chelsea’s return to the Champions League after a season’s absence. Conte would undoubtedly be seeking reinforcements up and down the team’s spine, from Romelu Lukaku to Virgil van Dijk, Tiemoué Bakayoko to Alexis Sánchez, and will also be offered his own new lucrative contract to stay at the club.
The club’s recruitment drive is expected to see a big surge in spending as there will be some departures with Diego Costa’s future uncertain amid interest from the Chinese Super League club Tianjin Quanjian. John Terry will leave under freedom of contract, curtailing a 22-year association with the club, and may be offered his first starts since September this week, while Kurt Zouma and even Friday’s match-winner, Michy Batshuayi, could be made available for loan.
