Branislav Ivanovic: There’s no need to panic, Chelsea will get it right with Antonio Conte

Put to the sword: Gunners crushed Chelsea with 3-0 win at the Emirates
David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Simon Johnson26 September 2016

Branislav Ivanovic believes Chelsea should not panic and abandon Antonio Conte’s game-plan less than two months into the new season.

Chelsea were completely outplayed by Arsenal in their 3-0 defeat on Saturday and have now picked up just one point from their last three matches.

After taking over in July Conte changed Chelsea’s formation from 4-2-3-1, which they have used for several seasons, to 4-1-4-1 in a bid to tighten up at the back and make them title contenders again.

However, Chelsea have kept just one clean sheet so far and conceded 13 goals in eight matches this term. But Ivanovic feels Conte’s system will pay off in the long run and said: “We have changed a lot and have been working hard on a different way of playing. You always need time for it to start working.

“In the last two games, I know it has not been the usual Chelsea but if this way starts working, it will be very good for us and we will be very dangerous.

“We will get a run from that, so we must keep on that way. I know it’s very difficult and is hurtful for all of us but the opinion of all of us in the dressing room was pointing in the same direction.

“We have to be positive and think altogether. Our minds have to remain on our way of playing. You know in your career that it can always go up and down and in the last week we have been down over the bad results.

“But I am sure we can get out of this stronger. We have to stick together and work harder. We have to believe in what we are doing and results will come.”

Conte was left so furious by his players’ performance on Saturday that he revealed he wouldn’t be able to sleep for “two nights”. The former Italy and Juventus coach also revealed he might consider making drastic changes to turn things around.

Significantly, in the second half at Arsenal, Conte switched to three at the back for the first time and used Cesar Azpilicueta and substitute Marcus Alonso as wingbacks.

In Pictures: Arsenal vs Chelsea

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And Conte told BBC Sport: “It was a bad performance, the worst in all the games we have played up till now. From the first minute we had a bad attitude. I think it’s important to understand we must work a lot to improve.

“Will I consider 3-5-2? Yes. Now I have to consider everything because I have to find the right balance. It’s the right moment to consider all [systems] to improve the situation because in every game we are conceding two goals. This is incredible and we are following [what happened] last season. We must show we want to fight for something, otherwise we will lose a lot.”

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