Oscar would prefer Chelsea to play in 4-3-3 rather than 4-2-4 formation

Since his arrival at Stamford Bridge in 2012, Oscar has always been tabbed as a no.10, operating behind the center forward in a creative, attacking midfield role.  While he may have been at times deployed on the wings, it was the center of the pitch that seemed to best suit his often considerable two-way skills.  Jose Mourinho, to his eventual downfall, certainly operated under this assumption.

The new man in town looks set not to utilize a no.10 in his tactics, preferring more dynamic midfielders in either a two-man or a three-man setup.  Conte used a 4-4-2/4-2-4 system for much of preseason, but over the last couple games, thanks in part to N'Golo Kanté, a 4-1-4-1/4-3-3 setup has emerged as viable, if not even preferred option.  For Oscar, it's certainly the latter case.

"I think we have played better with the 4-3-3 than when we have played 4-2-4, but we have two formations and always we try our best. 4-3-3 is better for me because I can score more goals, and also create more and tackle in midfield which I like to do to help the team."

"In the last two games I have scored three goals so I am feeling good, we are ready and now we are all just looking forward to starting the season."

-Oscar; source: Chelsea FC

Many had advocated for quite some time now for a return to the 4-3-3, a designation that by itself lacks true accuracy in terms of actual strategy, but hinges on having three midfielders rather than the two dedicated ones of a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-2-4.  Whether or not that's the formation that Conte eventually settles on — and whether he plays it in the Mourinho Mk.I 1-2 style of a single holder and two more advanced midfielders — may not be known for some time.  But Oscar's future certainly seems to lie a bit deeper in midfield than his Chelsea past, and that should be a promising development.