Over the month of October, the first in which Chelsea had fully implemented the 3-4-3 system, the Blues collected 4 wins from 4 Premier League games, scoring 11 goals and not allowing a single one. As a result of this scintillating form, Chelsea jumped from 8th to 4th in the table (and are now sitting 2nd after the 5-0 trouncing of Everton). The performances and the results have been recognized by a more than deserved award for head coach Antonio Conte.
Your October @BarclaysFooty Manager of the Month is... Antonio Conte!
— Premier League (@premierleague) 18 November 2016
Congratulations to the @ChelseaFC boss pic.twitter.com/F9hAvSJ6VY
The last time a Chelsea manager earned a Manager of the Month award was in April 2013, when Rafael Benítez got the prize thanks a four-game unbeaten run with wins over Sunderland, Fulham and Swansea City, as well as a draw against Benítez's former team, Liverpool. That unbeaten run was extended until the end of the season, as Chelsea earned wins over Manchester United, Aston Villa and Everton and got a draw against Tottenham to finish the year in 3rd.
Conte wasn't alone in collecting a monthly prize after Chelsea's stellar October. Attacking midfielder Eden Hazard, who scored 3 goals, collected 1 assist and averaged 4.75 dribbles completed per game also took home a prize of his own. Rather unbelievably, this is the first time in Hazard's Chelsea career that he's won this award!
Congratulations Eden Hazard! The @ChelseaFC star is the @EASPORTSFIFA Player of the Month for October pic.twitter.com/vu3wCiccsx
— Premier League (@premierleague) 18 November 2016
Both awards are given based on the votes of a panel composed by Premier League associates, coupled with online votes from the public. The latter comprises only 10% of the total vote, much to Arsenal fans' chagrin.
It's only been three months since Conte's takeover at Chelsea, but we are already reaping the benefits of the change in command with individual awards and most importantly, results on the pitch. Long may it all last!