Chelsea are preparing for their Premier League match against Manchester United on Sunday. The Blues are coming off of a Champions League loss to Roma, and desperately need to keep winning in the Premier League to hold on to a Champions League position for next season.
Although the Blues have collected 19 of 30 points this term, the team are nine points behind league leaders Manchester City. The team have lost two of their last four matches in the Premier League and one former Arsenal defender believes Antonio Conte has lost the commitment of his players.
Antonio Conte in a sophomore slump
Martin Keown firmly believes Conte and his tactics have been found out by other teams in the league. The former Arsenal man thinks that is why the Blues have not been as convincing as they were a season ago. With Chelsea’s tactics no longer being new, teams have been able to prepare for them in training more easily.
Despite Keown’s words ringing some truth, it makes sense that teams will have figured out some of Chelsea’s tactics this term. In addition, the team lost leading scorer Diego Costa. The Spaniard had a falling out with manager Conte and the team haven’t had the same bullish edge it had a season ago.
An uncertain road
Chelsea will play Liverpool at the end of November after a trip to Qarabag in the Champions League. The fixture list won’t get any easier for the under fire manager as games against Newcastle, West Ham and Atletico Madrid will take place before Christmas.
