Chelsea

Cesar Azpilicueta talks up Antonio Conte's tactical tinkering

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 28 October 2016

Cesar Azpilicueta believes that Chelsea's strong team spirit and a switch to a new formation has played a big part in their return to winning ways in the Premier League.

Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta has admitted that he and his teammates are finding life easier thanks to manager Antonio Conte's recent decision to revert to a 3-4-3 formation.

The former Italy and Juventus boss made the call to shift to five at the back, including the use of two flying wing-backs, during half time of his side's dismal 3-0 defeat to rivals Arsenal.

Since then the Blues have played three and won three in the Premier League, scoring nine goals and yet to concede, and Conte revealed ahead of Sunday's meeting against Southampton that he intends to stick with the winning formula.

"I find it good. The most important thing for me is the team and since we changed the system we haven't conceded goals in the Premier League," Azpilicueta told Sky Sports News.

"I try to play my part in the team. The most important part of the system is the spirit of the team and the way we work. The tactics make a difference but what was most pleasing was the way the team work made it happen.

"Some players have different roles now but we have all week to work on that and we have a very clear idea what to do in the game. We have different options from the attacking fullbacks now."

Chelsea's upturn in fortunes in the league has helped them claw the gap on the pacesetters to just one point, though they did suffer defeat to West Ham United in the EFL Cup in midweek - a match from which Azpilicueta was absent.