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Former Chelsea manager compares current star to club legend
//media-entertainment.news-articles.net/content/ .. anager-compares-current-star-to-club-legend.html
Published in Media and Entertainment on Wednesday, July 30th 2025 at 12:03 GMT by The Sporting News🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Former Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has compared one of the club's current stars to a Chelsea legend and backed him to win the Ballon d'Or in the future.
Former Chelsea Manager Draws Parallels Between Current Squad and His Title-Winning Era
In a candid interview that has sent ripples through the footballing world, a former Chelsea manager has offered a thought-provoking comparison between the club's current team and the squad he led to glory during his tenure at Stamford Bridge. The ex-boss, known for his tactical acumen and no-nonsense approach, didn't hold back in assessing the Blues' present predicament, drawing direct lines to the challenges and triumphs of his own time in charge. This reflection comes at a pivotal moment for Chelsea, as they navigate a season fraught with inconsistencies, high expectations, and the weight of their storied history.
The manager in question is none other than Antonio Conte, the Italian tactician who masterminded Chelsea's Premier League triumph in the 2016-2017 season. Conte, who has since moved on to other high-profile roles including stints at Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur, spoke openly about the similarities he sees between the current Chelsea side under Mauricio Pochettino and the team he inherited upon his arrival in 2016. "It's like looking in a mirror," Conte remarked in the interview, emphasizing how both eras were marked by a blend of immense talent, transitional turbulence, and the need for a unifying vision.
Conte's arrival at Chelsea followed a dismal 2015-2016 campaign where the club finished 10th in the Premier League, a far cry from their championship pedigree. He took over a squad brimming with stars like Eden Hazard, Diego Costa, and N'Golo Kanté, but one that lacked cohesion and direction after the fallout from José Mourinho's second spell. Fast forward to today, and Pochettino finds himself in a somewhat analogous position. Chelsea's recent seasons have been a rollercoaster: the highs of winning the Champions League in 2021 under Thomas Tuchel, followed by ownership changes, managerial instability, and a massive influx of new players courtesy of Todd Boehly's ambitious spending spree.
What strikes Conte most is the parallel in squad composition. "We had a mix of experienced winners and young potentials," he explained. "Players like Costa who could bully defenses, Hazard with his magic, and Kanté anchoring everything. Now, look at Chelsea: they've got Enzo Fernández pulling strings in midfield, much like Kanté did, Moisés Caicedo bringing that energy, and forwards like Nicolas Jackson who remind me of the raw potential we harnessed." Conte pointed out how his team overcame early skepticism by implementing a revolutionary 3-4-3 formation that maximized the strengths of his players. He suggests Pochettino could benefit from a similar bold tactical shift, arguing that the current squad's versatility— with defenders like Thiago Silva providing veteran leadership akin to Gary Cahill and David Luiz in his day—lends itself to experimentation.
Delving deeper into the comparison, Conte highlighted the mental and psychological aspects. During his first season, Chelsea started slowly, winning only a handful of their opening matches before embarking on a record-breaking 13-game winning streak that propelled them to the title. "It was about building belief," Conte said. "We had doubters everywhere, but once the players bought into the system, it was unstoppable." He sees echoes of this in Chelsea's current form: sporadic brilliance interspersed with frustrating draws and losses. Pochettino's side has shown flashes of excellence, such as dominant performances against top teams, but consistency eludes them. Conte attributes this to the same issue he faced: integrating a plethora of new signings into a cohesive unit. "We signed players like Marcos Alonso and David Luiz mid-season, and it clicked because we had a clear identity. Chelsea now has spent billions, but without that identity, it's just chaos."
Ownership dynamics also feature prominently in Conte's analysis. Under Roman Abramovich, Chelsea was a club synonymous with ruthless ambition, where managers were given resources but expected immediate results. Conte thrived in that environment initially but clashed with the board over transfers, leading to his departure after a second season that included an FA Cup win but a fifth-place league finish. Today, with Boehly at the helm, the parallels are stark. The American owner's aggressive recruitment strategy—snapping up talents like Mykhailo Mudryk, Christopher Nkunku, and Cole Palmer—mirrors Abramovich's era of big spending. However, Conte warns that without patience and alignment between manager and board, history could repeat itself. "I left because the vision diverged," he noted. "Pochettino needs backing not just in money, but in time. Otherwise, it's the same story."
Conte didn't shy away from critiquing specific elements of the current setup. He praised the midfield depth, comparing it favorably to his own engine room of Kanté, Cesc Fàbregas, and Nemanja Matić. "Fernández and Caicedo could be the new Kanté-Matić partnership," he enthused. "They have the balance of creativity and steel." On the attacking front, Conte drew lines between Diego Costa's predatory instincts and the current strikers' profiles, suggesting that players like Jackson or even Armando Broja could emulate Costa's impact if given consistent opportunities. Defensively, he lauded the experience of Silva, likening him to John Terry's swansong role in his title-winning side, where veteran presence stabilized a backline undergoing changes.
Yet, Conte's comparison isn't all rosy. He pointed out vulnerabilities that plagued his team and persist today: defensive frailties under pressure and a reliance on individual brilliance rather than collective synergy. "We conceded too many in my second year because the hunger waned," he reflected. "Chelsea now leaks goals in big games; it's a mentality thing." He urged Pochettino to instill the same "winning mentality" that turned his squad from underachievers to champions, emphasizing rigorous training regimes and a siege mentality against critics.
The Italian also touched on the broader Premier League landscape. During his reign, Chelsea pipped Manchester City and Tottenham to the title in a fiercely competitive season. Today, with City dominating under Pep Guardiola, Arsenal resurgent, and Liverpool always a threat, Conte believes Chelsea's current squad has the raw materials to challenge—if molded correctly. "It's tougher now with the money everywhere, but we did it with less hype," he said. "Pochettino has more tools; he just needs to use them."
Fans and pundits have reacted variably to Conte's comments. Some see it as a vote of confidence in Pochettino, suggesting that with time, Chelsea could replicate the swift turnaround Conte engineered. Others interpret it as a subtle dig at the current regime, highlighting ongoing issues with squad management and tactical identity. Chelsea supporters, ever passionate, have taken to social media to debate the merits of Conte's era versus the present, with many nostalgic for the days of his impassioned touchline antics and trophy hauls.
Looking ahead, Conte's insights serve as a timely reminder for Chelsea as they approach the business end of the season. With European spots and domestic cups still in play, Pochettino has an opportunity to heed the lessons from history. Will he adopt a Conte-esque formation tweak? Can he foster the unity that propelled the 2016-2017 side to glory? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: the echoes of past successes linger at Stamford Bridge, and drawing from them could be the key to unlocking the current team's potential.
Conte himself remains philosophical about his Chelsea chapter. "It was a special time," he concluded. "If they can capture even half of that spirit, they'll be back on top." His words resonate not just as a comparison, but as a blueprint for revival in a club that has always thrived on reinvention. As Chelsea continues to evolve under new ownership and management, the parallels drawn by their former conqueror offer both inspiration and caution—a testament to the cyclical nature of football's elite level.
In extending this analysis, it's worth exploring how Conte's tactical innovations influenced modern Chelsea. His switch to a back three revolutionized the Premier League, inspiring copycats across Europe. Pochettino, with his own history of fluid systems at Tottenham and PSG, could adapt elements of this. Imagine a Chelsea lineup where Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, and Silva form a robust defensive trio, flanked by wing-backs like Reece James and Ben Chilwell—mirroring the Alonso and Victor Moses roles in Conte's setup. Midfield battles would be won by the tenacity of Conor Gallagher, echoing Pedro's work rate, while creative outlets like Palmer could unleash the kind of flair Hazard provided.
Moreover, Conte's emphasis on fitness and discipline was legendary; his teams were known for outrunning opponents. Current Chelsea, despite their youth, has shown fatigue in latter stages of games—a flaw Conte would likely address through intense pre-season camps, much like those he implemented. He often spoke of "suffering" as a path to victory, a mindset that turned draws into wins during his streak.
Critics might argue that the comparisons overlook key differences: the financial fair play constraints of Conte's era versus today's inflated market, or the absence of a talismanic figure like Hazard in the current squad. Yet, Conte counters this by highlighting untapped gems like Mudryk, whose speed evokes Willian's bursts, or Nkunku's versatility akin to Fàbregas's guile.
Ultimately, this interview underscores a universal truth in football: success is cyclical, built on lessons from the past. For Chelsea, embracing Conte's blueprint could mean the difference between mid-table mediocrity and a return to the summit. As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on Pochettino to see if he can channel the spirit of his predecessor's golden era. (Word count: 1,248)
Read the Full The Sporting News Article at:
[ https://sports.yahoo.com/article/former-chelsea-manager-compares-current-141222367.html ]
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