Antonio Conte has hailed Victor Moses, and stated his bewilderment at how Jose Mourinho underestimated the Nigerian winger
Moses, who joined Chelsea in 2012 from Wigan Athletic, made 43 appearances in all competitions under Roberto Di Matteo and Rafa Benitez.
However, Moses was completely ostracised once Jose Mourinho took over, and did not make a single competitive appearance during the Portugese manager’s 3 seasons at the club. Moses spent those 3 seasons out on loan, first at Liverpool then at Stoke and West Ham – who at the end of last season turned down an opportunity in the loan deal that allowed them to make Moses’ move a permanent one.
No one thought that Moses would have a future at Stamford Bridge, especially after failing to impress at West Ham last season, but the Nigerian looks like a player reborn this season.
The 25-year old has made 10 appearances already in all competitions this season, scoring 3 and assisting 1.
He has also been a big part of Chelsea’s impressive team performances this season, contributing exactly the way Antonio Conte has wanted him to.
And according to Conte, he knew his potential within days of watching the Nigerian international play :
“I could see his potential from the first days of the summer training camp,” said Conte, according to the Telegraph.
“Moses has important qualities: technique, physical strength, the ability to cover 70m of the pitch.
Conte also expressed his genuine surprise that Moses was so poorly rated at Chelsea during Mourinho’s time :
“I find it incredible that someone like him has been underestimated.”
Moses has been deployed as a right wing-back in Conte’s hugely successful 3-5-2 system.
His physical fitness that Conte praised has been a huge asset in his marauding runs forward, as well as his adherence to Conte’s defensive demands.
It appears that Conte is going to stick with this system, and this means that Moses is key to his plans as Branislav Ivanovic no longer has the athleticism that the role demands.
Chelsea face Tottenham this Saturday in a crunch clash at Stamford Bridge, and Conte will be hoping that Moses takes his fine form into that game.
