Antonio Conte says playing without a recognised striker can suit Chelsea and could well be a tactic he uses again.
The Blues have won all four matches in which boss Conte has played with a ‘false number nine’.[phone]
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Their latest success came in midweek at Huddersfield, where Eden Hazard led the attack.
And Conte believes the system remains an excellent option for the reigning champions.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, the Italian said: “We played this way last season and I think this is a good option because you don’t give a point of reference to your opponent.
“You can play, with your three players, very good technically and also very fast and very good one-v-one – creative players.
“At the same time, it is very important to have a good balance. If our three strikers want to sacrifice without the ball to give us the right balance then, yes, I think this could be a good option for the present and for the future.
“You have to have a balance or you risk losing the game, risk a counter-attack, and I don’t want this. I think my players know very well what I want.”
However, Alvaro Morata, who missed the Huddersfield game with a slight back problem, is in the squad and is expected to return against Southampton later today.
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