Going to sleep, content with life as a Chelsea supporter once again, I wondered what media nonsense I`d wake up to read. The journo`s and pundit`s that have put so much negative spin on Chelsea`s season so far, must be able to think up something to satisfy their thirst for Chelsea`s demise.
Surprisingly, there`s very little to be able to pick up on. Obviously, there`s handshake-gate with Conte preferring to celebrate the win with his players rather than Jose Mourinho. Here`s as manager who knows how to take high moral ground and divert attention where he wants.
The Man Utd one, waited at the final whistle for Conte to come over, but being an ex-player, Conte was always going to look to the crowd and his players before Jose. Before the game began Mourinho waited at the top of the tunnel to greet the Chelsea tea, as they ran out onto the pitch, knowing full well it would invoke a reaction. Gary Cahill, with his game face on, ignored his ex-manager, as did Eden Hazard, who completely blanked him.
Meanwhile as the game began, the pundits were desperate for Nemanja Matic to turn in a match-winning performance. Sadly for them, he didn`t. Matic`s most fervent supporter Phil Neville, was asked on Twitter if there were going to be any ‘funny Matic jokes`, following the game. Neville has thanked Chelsea for selling the Serb to United countless times this season. His reply to the question posed by one of his followers,
`Not tonight mate, I`m quite happy @Everton won.`
Tiemoue Bakayoko, effectively Matic`s replacement, turned himself into a rampaging midfielder, finding himself in areas of the pitch he rarely sees. Quite often, in yesterday`s game, he was the furthest Chelsea player forward. His only let down, in what was probably his best game at Chelsea, was his finishing. Something he, himself alluded to on his Instagram account.
Prior to the game, comparisons were bound to be drawn between Alvaro Morata and Romelu Lukaku. It`s believed, although we don`t really know, that Antonio Conte favoured Lukaku over Morata in the summer`s transfer dealings. Chelsea`s move for the Belgian international fell through when the club, allegedly, refused to pay a vast fee to Lukaku`s agent, Mino Raiola, to cement the deal.
Morata was bought in, and despite a poor spell of form following his hamstring injury, yesterday`s winning goal should set him back on course. Lukaku, who also came into the game out of form, continued in that vein. Lukaku hasn`t scored since the end of September.
Looking beyond the international break that is now upon us, with N`golo Kante back and fit, Chelsea looked rejuvenated against United. Once the domestic program resumes, Chelsea will be able to move forward with Antonio Conte is full command. An added bonus also, is one the ‘kids`, in Andreas Christensen is cementing a place in the starting XI and the scolded David Luiz sitting in the stands in his ‘civvies`, has some serious thinking to do.
Antonio Conte has laid down the law and proved once again who is in charge of the Chelsea dressing room. Let us just hope, that for once, those on high at the club, support the manager rather than the players. Chelsea`s ‘awful` season continues with them two points off second place in the Premier League and still competing in all other competitions. Long may this season continue then.
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