Avram Grant hails Antonio Conte for sticking to 3-4-3 formation and backs Chelsea to win Premier League

The west London side are five points ahead of Liverpool at the top of the table after 20 matches, despite a 2-0 away defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last time out.

Grant, who guided Roman Abramovich’s side to the 2008 Champions League final and second place in the league that same year, has been impressed with the way Conte implemented his famed 3-4-3 system at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea may have got off to a slow start this term but the Italian turned it around on his terms, using the same formation and style that he employed so successfully during spells with Juventus and Italy.

“Conte has done a very good move, he came back to the system he has played all his life, because Chelsea started the season not so good. I think one of the strengths of big coaches is knowing when to change – when things aren’t going well. Chelsea are looking the best in the league at the moment,” Grant, who currently manages Ghana, told Sport360.

“Conte is doing a very good job in Chelsea and it’s not easy with the same players as last year. Even though Chelsea have big players, the coach is very important and I think at the moment they are my first choice to win the Premier League.”