Antonio Conte’s time in charge of Chelsea was only brief, however well-remembered by fans as the time they last won the Premier League title.
The Italian’s iconic change to a 3-4-3 formation helped the Blues recover from a mid-table finish the season before to dominate England again, and Eden Hazard was the key to their brilliant campaign.
The Belgian scored 16 goals and assisted another five in the Premier League that season, and it was clear he was going to play a key role again as they looked to defend their crown
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Unexpectedly, Chelsea were without their other top attacker for the new campaign. Diego Costa quickly departed the club over the summer, with Conte looking to go in a different direction.
West Bromwich Albion v Chelsea - Premier League
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Antonio Conte’s Alvaro Morata gamble paid off on this day eight years ago
The current Napoli boss took a big gamble in signing Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid, and handing him the number nine shirt at Stamford Bridge.
Things got off to a brilliant start for the Spaniard, and on this day in 2017 he and Hazard combined to rout West Brom.
The Blues won 4-0, with the Belgian scoring twice, one of them from a lovely flick from the centre forward to set him away.
Morata also found the net, converting from close range as he snatched up a rebound from close range after the winger had tested Ben Foster from distance.
Conte said after the game that he believed the duo were showing great chemistry together, and he had found a great partner for Hazard in attack.
He said to BBC Sport: “They’re showing a great link. I think that compared to last season, we’ve changed something, but I think Hazard now is 100% fit, and you forget we started the season without him.
“Hazard is an important player for us when he plays this type of game. With great desire with or without the ball, and I think he’s found a great partnership with Morata.”
West Bromwich Albion v Chelsea - Premier League
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Morata’s hot start didn’t last
At this point of the season, Morata was on eight Premier League goals, and Chelsea fans will have had belief that they could have even signed a better player than Costa.
However, the form didn’t last. He would only score another three league goals for the rest of the season, and the exit of Conte at the end of the season was the beginning of the end for the striker.
He would remain in the plans under Maurizio Sarri, but struggled for minutes ahead of Olivier Giroud, another player who formed a strong partnership with Hazard.
The decision to part ways with Costa so suddenly is still seen as one of the big recent mistakes in the transfer market, and despite his hot start Morata did little to change that argument.