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The Nairobian

Conte rules out changing formation after Spurs loss

Football

By The Standard | Jan 06, 2017

Even after Chelsea’s 13-match winning run ended, Antonio Conte found something to laugh about.

In the three months since Chelsea adopted the 3-4-3 formation Conte favoured in Italy, the team has powered to the top of the Premier League.

So Conte was bemused by the suggestion he might consider abandoning the three-man defence that was penetrated so easily by Tottenham in Wednesday’s 2-0 loss, but had previously been serving Chelsea so well.

“We found a good balance with this formation and we continue with it,” Conte told reporters at White Hart Lane. “But it’s very strange you ask me after a defeat after 13 wins in a row if I’m thinking of changing the formation.

“I am seeing that to stop us other teams are changing the formation.”

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Tottenham did just that; adopting a three-man defence and successfully impeding Chelsea, particularly Diego Costa. The league’s top scorer has only failed to score in three of Chelsea’s last 10 games, including both league meetings with Tottenham now.

Costa’s 14 goals have helped Chelsea to establish a lead at the summit over Liverpool that remains at five points despite the Spurs setback.

Identical goals were the underdoing of Chelsea, which couldn’t contain the aerial threat posed by Dele Alli either side of halftime.

On both occasions, Kyle Walker released Christian Eriksen on the right flank and crosses were delivered into the penalty area where Alli rose between Victor Moses and Cesar Azpilicueta to head into the net.