Michy Batshuayi's moment has not yet arrived at Chelsea, but it will come
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Published 27/12/2016 at 09:58 GMT
Some may have expected the £33m striker to be match-ready, for that money, but Antonio Conte wants to give him a schooling in the finer arts of his system, before unleashing him on the Premier League.
Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi during the warm up before the game
Image credit: Reuters
The Belgian had been the hot favourite to replace the suspended Diego Costa during Chelsea's Boxing Day clash with Bournemouth.
But Conte has revealed how he told his players following the win over Crystal Palace that he intend to spend the week experimenting with options, before opting for Eden Hazard as a false nine – something vindicated by the eventual 3-0 win.
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Chelsea's Eden Hazard celebrates scoring their second goal with Gary Cahill and Marcos Alonso
Image credit: Reuters
Batshuayi is much beloved of fans at Stamford Bridge: for both the promise he has shown on-pitch against lower league opposition – his League Cup brace against Bristol Rovers his best showing so far; as well as his character-filled social media antics.
Thus raising the question many fans want asked of Conte: “If you didn't rate him, why buy him?”
The answer, of course, is that Conte did not buy Batshuayi: he was secured from Marseille as very much a club project, with Michael Emenalo in the driving seat on that deal.
That is not an unusual situation at Chelsea, with a long list of players in recent years coming via the recommendation of the club's technical director.
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Michael Emenalo, Chelsea Technical Director
Image credit: PA Sport
And, though many fans like to question the Nigerian's aim on such projects, his record is actually very good.
Kevin De Bruyne is the most obvious example: a talented and able player, who simply didn't fit into Jose Mourinho's blueprint, and did not have the application to change his game to the degree expected by the former Blues' boss.
De Bruyne would have been slightly more at home in Conte's side, though there are still questions regarding to what extent he is enough of a tactical chameleon for the Italian.
But the fact remains Emenalo did extremely good business on the man eventually sold to Manchester City for a profit of almost £50m.
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Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Image credit: AFP
That is not to say the sole focus of Emenalo's signings is profit: Victor Moses was another man he personally identified as a target.
As with De Bruyne, that was done because Moses was seen to be a payer with potential: which has taken time to release, but has now found an outlet under Conte.
The degree to which managers are aware of these signings varies: Andre Villas-Boas was quite open at the time about knowing little about the signing of De Bruyne; Roberto Di Matteo is understood to have be consulted, and little more, over the acquisition of Moses.
Conte would have been aware Batshuayi was on his way: though it is clear the recommendation did not come from his shortlist (which included the successful purchases of N'Golo Kante and Marcos Alonso).
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Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi in action
Image credit: Reuters
But that seems to matter little to Conte: who prides himself in being able to work with the tools he is given, and does not seem to be one to demand extravagant signings to fit any predetermined narrow mould.
Batshuayi will not be ostracised, as we have seen in some recent manager/player relationships at Chelsea: ignored almost from the off, and left to train away from the group.
That is not Conte's style.
And when the Italian says he will work with him, to bring him up to the standard he is seeking, it is a statement of intent which has to be believed.
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Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi prepares to come on as he receives intruction from manager Antonio Conte
Image credit: Reuters
In the immediate future, Batshuayi's chances are likely to come in the FA Cup third round tie at home to Peterborough.
But with Conte adamant he will not be permitted to go on loan, it is clear he is seen as a workable option: and may be called upon as the season progresses.
If Batshuayi can feel aggrieved about anything it is merely circumstance: that he has come into a club with an immensely talented striker, in whom the manager has had to renew a certain lost sparkle.
In that quest, Conte has had remarkable success: Costa is now, far and away, the best in the Premier League.
If the same magic can be worked on Batshuayi, then that £33m will start looking like a bargain before long.
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