FA Cup 2018: 3 things Chelsea did right in their 2-0 victory over Southampton 

#2 Hazard operating as a second striker after Willian’s departure

Willian was sacrificed to get Hazard more involved in the game

Chelsea began the day with Conte’s standard 3-4-3 formation, with Willian and Eden Hazard supporting Giroud on either side in attack.

Fleet-footed Hazard started on the left and though he made many inroads into the Southampton defence and midfield three, the Belgian star was unable to provide the decisive punch to break them down in the first half.

Chelsea were counter-attacking at speed thanks to Willian’s drive, but they needed Hazard to make a direct charge at the Saints’ defenders, something he was being starved of by playing from wide.

A tactical tweak from Conte solved that issue, taking Willian off for Tiemoue Bakayoko and giving Hazard permission to take up the second striker’s role just behind Giroud.

Though the decision to take off the brilliant Willian was questionable, Conte’s ultimate objective was justified as he wanted Hazard to be more involved.

He put Fabregas on the right-hand side and slotted Bakayoko in the Spaniard’s place. The move seemed to have worked, as Hazard began to take charge of the attack by making a direct approach towards Southampton’s three-man defence.

He took them on one-on-one, completed dribbles and had better sighters at goal than in the first half.

Fabregas’ lack of pace on the counter meant that he was replaced by Pedro soon after. Conte had got his tactical game spot on, although Willian may not be on the same page as his boss.