Michy Batshuayi’s final kick of Wednesday night’s match at Atletico Madrid’s sparkling new Wanda Metropolitano stadium was the perfect ending to one of the great Chelsea European performances.
It was no more than the visitors deserved, Antonio Conte’s men rightly earning plaudits for outplaying one of Europe’s top sides. But it was no smash and grab win.
Conte knew his title winners had to evolve if they were to compete at Champions League level and fend off a renewed challenge for their Premier League crown.
The Italian’s 3-4-3 formation that took last season by storm, won the league and prompted the vast majority of top division managers to change to three at the back had to be tweaked.
This season’s most impressive side, Manchester City, visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday and will face a similar beast to the one that triumphed in the Spanish capital.
With the three centre-halves and the vaunted wing-backs remaining the same, Conte has shifted to three central midfielders.
Tiemoue Bakayoko – if you haven’t heard his new chant to the tune of Earth Wind & Fire’s disco classic ‘September’ you’re missing out – has replaced Nemanja Matic and bought new vigour to Chelsea’s play in the middle of the park.
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