Victor Moses wasn’t in my plans before – Conte

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte says the real change that has transformed Super Eagles star Victor Moses into one of the Blues’ most dependable stars came when he decided to alter the formation after the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal.

After failing to get first team football in recent season, Conte said he was willing to wait, to see what he could do with the Nigerian international as is the Italian’s general policy after three fairly unconvincing loans in four years.

The Italian who gives players that chance, looks to work with them to see if they’ll work in the way he wants says the formation change saw Moses go from a winger the Chelsea manager could use to a wing-back he had fashioned into a proper Premier League force after rigorously schooling him in the defensive side of the game.

“If you ask me if I imagined him in this newposition, not before. No. Not before. We started 4-2-4 and I always saw him as a winger, very good in one versus one, but a bit poor defensively. Then, when I decided to change the system, I wanted to try him in this new role and to work with him on defensive situations.

“He showed me great commitment to understand, to study the new role, above all in defensive situations. Now we have a complete player, offensively and defensively,” said Conte on the Independent.

Moses who played 21 games for West Ham last season, having eventually fallen away after a decent start faces the Hammers on Monday at the Olympic Stadium as one of the most influential and best-performing players in this title surge.

His contributions at Stamford Bridge has naturally led to a new contract for the former Wigan Athletic man who could be making his 21st start for the Blues when he faces his former team-mates at West Ham.