Former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte once admitted that one Blues player surprised him in a good way when he started working with him in England.
Antonio Conte was a big success during two years at Chelsea as their manager between 2016 and 2018, winning a trophy in each season. The Italian coach guided the Blues to the Premier League title in his debut campaign before winning the FA Cup in his second year.
Chelsea legend Didier Drogba wished he had played under Conte, but the duo didn’t overlap at Stamford Bridge.
Games Wins Draws Losses
106 70 15 21
Antonio Conte’s record as Chelsea manager across all competitions via Transfermarkt
Conte sits alongside some other brilliant Italian managers to operate in the dugout at Chelsea. Hopefully, current head coach Enzo Maresca can enjoy the same success as some of his predecessors.
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Antonio Conte was amazed by Victor Moses when he started working with him at Chelsea
During his time at Chelsea, Conte had a core group of players who excelled under him, including Victor Moses.
Without a doubt, the versatile star played the best football of his career when Conte coached him, thriving as the right wing-back in the Blues side that won the Premier League. In fact, they linked up again at Inter Milan in 2020.
Speaking after only a few months of working with him, Conte couldn’t quite grasp why Moses had been so “underestimated” by other managers.
Back in November 2016, Conte commented on Moses via The Telegraph: “I could see his potential from the first days of the summer training camp.
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“Moses has important qualities: technique, physical strength, the ability to cover 70m of the pitch. I find it incredible that someone like him has been underestimated.”
Moses’ breakout at Chelsea under Conte did come a bit out of nowhere because he was in his mid-20s and had already played at a number of clubs. However, his athleticism made him the perfect fit in Conte’s system as a wing-back.
Now at Luton Town in the Championship, the 34-year-old should be very proud of what he achieved with the Blues.
Coach Appearances Goals Assists
Antonio Conte 78 8 7
Rafael Benitez 32 7 3
Roberto Di Matteo 11 3 0
Maurizio Sarri 6 0 0
Jose Mourinho 1 0 0
Victor Moses’ Chelsea career by manager via Transfermarkt
While Maurizio Sarri preferred Moses as a winger, he was at his best when he was up and down the right flank from a starting wing-back spot. In Conte’s title-winning team, Marcos Alonso was doing the same job on the left as well.
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Current Chelsea team would suit wing-backs
We’ve mainly seen Maresca use a back four at Chelsea this season, even if the system is pretty fluid in games.
On paper, the Blues have the personnel to play with wing-backs, but it would mean placing less emphasis on the wingers to stay high and wide.
Even though Maresca views Reece James as a midfielder, he was exceptional earlier in his career as a right wing-back. Similarly, full-back Malo Gusto performed much better as a wing-back last season than during a difficult period this year in a back four. Marc Cucurella is tailor-made for a left wing-back role, too.
It’s definitely something for the head coach to consider moving forward…