Chelsea FC: Conte looking at trying a different formation- no more 3-4-3

Chelsea FC: Blues defender Marcos Alonso has hinted in a recent interview that Antonio Conte is trying different formations with the team.

Blues manager Antonio Conte pioneered the hugely successful 3-4-3 formation that helped Chelsea FC to win the Premier League title last season.

However, even after the success with this system, Alonso has hinted that Conte could be preparing new formations to combat other teams matching their 3-4-3.

"‘We are working on new things this year to improve as a team. [It was] not only Chelsea [that used this system]. It’s an old Italian system that worked very well last year,’‘It’s normal that other teams are trying to play like this, depending on the players you have. It’s good to play in different ways.‘Football forgets everything very quick. It’s already time to think about the next season and do better than last year.’"

Teams such as Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester City all also tried the 3 in the back formation after seeing Chelsea’s success with it.

However, I think the old rule ‘ don’t fix what’s not broken’ applies here. Unless Conte is trying different variations of the 3-4-3 such as using a 3-5-2 etc, I don’t see the point in changing it.

It would be a huge risk to go back to a back four in the defence and the Chelsea FC players are used to now playing in a back three.

I suspect Conte is trying different variations of the 3-4-3 as he would like to utilise Hazard up front with Morata while being able to deploy pass master Cesc Fabregas as the regista or number 10 in the midfield. This formation suits Fabregas best as it allows him to play in a midfield three where Kante and Bakayoko can cover his defensive weaknesses

Conte recently admitted that Fabregas would play a more important role in the side next season with Champions League and other competitions to worry about.

"“He is a really good player who can play in this position in midfield but also he could play No.10.”"

However, Conte will need more midfield reinforcements if he does plan on playing a three man midfield, with Nemanja Matic on his way out. Currently the best option off the bench would be Lewis Baker who is young and has loads of potential but is not a proven player in a top competition such as the Premier League and Champions League.