Antonio Conte hails Chelsea for transfer of 'great talent' Michy Batshuayi

By Lyall Thomas

Image: Michy Batshuayi joined Chelsea for £33m from Marseille last month

New Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte believes the club have signed a "great talent" in Michy Batshuayi and has tipped the Belgium striker to make an impact in the Premier League.

The Blues signed Batshuayi, who was one of the most coveted forwards in Europe, in a £33m deal from Marseille last month.

Italian Conte was unveiled to the media in his first press conference on Friday and said he is very happy with the attitude and behaviour he has found at his new training ground in Cobham.

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"Absolutely I think Michy can make an impact because he is a young player but very strong, with good technique," the 46-year-old said.

"He uses two feet. He is a great talent. I am very happy that Batshuayi is with us and I know the club bought a great player for the present and the future.

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"I prefer to speak with my club and we will take the decision on players who adapt to our idea of football - not to take the champions only because they are the champions, but players who adapt to our philosophy.

Image: Batshuayi scored for Belgium as they reached the Euro 2016 quarter-finals

"I have found the right behaviours and attitudes in Cobham, and I am very happy about this. I am a worker and I know only this road to win, and we have started to work on different aspects.

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"I think it's important to work on different aspects - the tactical aspect, and technique, and the physical aspect, and also on their mentality, to become strong and to help us overcome difficulty during training or games.

"In these first days, I am very happy because I have players ready to fight and play good football and transfer our passion and emotion to the fans. If we can I think it's a great victory for the club."

Conte has become renowned for mastering a system with three central defenders and wing-backs at both his previous club Juventus and the Italian national team, with whom he reached the Euro 2016 quarter-finals.

Image: Conte has already begun working with his players at Chelsea's Cobham base

But he suggested he will not necessarily continue with this formation and will instead look to adapt a system based on the players he has at his disposal.

"Usually when I arrive in a new team, I search to find the right position for the players, and when I was in Italy I liked to say that the manager is like a tailor," he said.

"Three at the back, four at the back - it's not important. You must build the best dress for the team and you have to respect the characteristics and talent of the players.

"In the past, I started the season with one idea with my teams, but then I changed it because I saw that the system for these players wasn't good. The spirit is important if we want to get back to competing."

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