Chelsea FC have now won six a in a row, compiling a 17-0 goal differential on aggregate since Manager Antonio Conte changed his formation. The current streak began on October 1st when Conte made the switch to a 3-4-3, and the Blues bested Hull City 2-0. Then they resoundingly defeated defending League Champions Leicester City 3-0, followed by a thrashing of Manchester United 4-0.
Then Chelsea FC beat Southampton 2-0, utterly destroyed Everton 5-0 and defeated Middlesbrough 1-0 today on the road.
As the ’90s alt rock band Live once sang “pain lies by the riverside,” and there was indeed pain for The Boro at Riverside Stadium today. Obtaining all three points moved Chelsea back to the top of the table temporarily with 28 points, just one ahead of Liverpool and Manchester City, both of which have 27.
Diego Costa, polarizing figure that he is, continued his run of fine form by providing the only scoring in this contests.
As we’ve pointed out previously, the major difference this season for Chelsea has been in the realms of leadership and team chemistry. They already had talent from last season, but Conte inherited a very strange Chelsea FC team in a strange situation. They were kind of a broken team under Jose Mourinho, who obviously lost the dressing room. Conte has apparently been the type of the leader Stamford Bridge needs as he’s put this Blues side back together.
https://twitter.com/CheIseaReport/status/800399661748064256
You got to love their chances of finishing a top the league standings when all is said and done as they have no UEFA Champions League this season to concern themselves with.
Without the duties of Europe, the Blues will be well rested and focused on domestic conquest. It’s an advantage they have over all the other league title contenders, sans Liverpool.
Another beautiful #CFC #passmap.
Kanté is the defensive side of Chelsea's heart, Hazard the offensive one. pic.twitter.com/x2gcWYeFLg— 11tegen11 (@11tegen11) November 20, 2016
All in all, things look really good right now for the Chelsea FC of Antonio Conte.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.