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.