4 Factors That Enhanced Antonio Conte's Reputation at Chelsea

#2 Winning 2 Trophies in 2 Seasons

Antonio Conte

Conte has always stated that he is a serial winner and he needs the club's backing in order to prove the same. The 2016-17 season was always considered to be a period of transition for Chelsea. The same view was also shared by the then caretaker manager Hiddink while leaving the club before Conte came in.

After the Arsenal loss earlier in his first season, Conte himself admitted that his squad is not a balanced one and it would require some repairing. However, this was a manager who turned a 7th place Juventus team into title winners in his first season. Their then captain Buffon also stated that it was Conte who gave them the belief that they were much better than where they finished and they deserve to be in the top.

Hence, if there was one man who could turn it around, it was Conte. Chelsea had finished 10th in the 2015-16 campaign before Conte arrived. Although they were champions the year before, the club certainly never believed they could do it at least after such a disastrous season. Some changes and freshness was certainly required if not in terms of players but at least in terms of ideologies.

Conte's belief and tactical nous changed the mentality of the squad completely. With the 3-4-3 formation, players had something interesting to work on. As the results started coming their way, it was reported that the players started to believe in the system even more and slowly and maturely started mastering it. Eventually, a title race which was supposed to be between the two Manchester clubs turned out to be one between the two London clubs in which Chelsea eventually won by a good margin. They won the league by winning 30 of their 38 games which was a then Premier league record.

The 2017-18 season had more similarities to their dismal 2015-16 season with the club defending their title in the most abysmal way. They were only able to qualify for the Europa League and the mood surrounding the club was one of discontent. However, in spite of some reported discontent among the squad, Conte was able to gather his troops and deliver an FA Cup triumph against Mourinho's Manchester United.

It may have failed to mask the disappointment of not qualifying for the Champions league but it was certainly a shot in the arm for both Conte and Chelsea. It proved that Chelsea, although destined for the Europa League, are very much among the elite and Conte is still, as he stated, a serial winner.