When Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata went off injured in the first half today replaced by Willian, Chelsea`s best real chance to score left with him.
Though the brilliant Spaniard is more than just a goal-hanging Lukaku: Morata`s scorching speed keeps defenders deep, while his excellent hold-up play and brilliant diagonal runs pose additional nightmares.
His popular Brazilian replacement is many things but leader of the line isn’t one of them.
Antonio Conte knows this. That`s why he has been begging the Chelsea board for another striker all summer long to no avail.
We know what he thinks about Batshuayi: it`s reflected in the minutes he allows the Belgian striker to play. We may disagree with this/admire Mitchy but we aren’t the manager, the man who just dragged us from 10th place to victory, so we can shut up.
On Saturday, the board`s refusal to meet The Don`s demands cost us three points – pure and simple, end of.
And the Chelsea`s board`s outrageous blundering doesn’t stop there: recall (if you can bear it) De Bruyne`s goal.
It was quite a moment for the fans. Chief among them seemed to be the hapless Fabregas who was the man tracking KDB? until he simply stopped to admire the Belgian ginger`s shooting ability.
I doubt that Matic would have stopped running and stood back like the man they call the human turnstile, but Matic wasn`t there: against The Don`s strenuous objections, Matic was released to become a key (if not the key) piece in the Man United jigsaw.
With a board like that, who needs enemies? Little wonder that Antonio Conte refused a contract extension and authoritative sources claim this season will be his last at Stamford Bridge.
As I am sure many muppets on here will rejoice, I too am seriously considering this as my final season.
After all, what true fan can find joy in suits addicted to managerial lottery? In every true footballing culture, the manager is a beloved member of the team. In recent times, no manager has fulfilled that role more passionately and brilliantly than Don Antonio. What a disgraceful, unforgivable waste.