
Photo: Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images
Tiemoue Bakayoko overcame criticisms following his poor performance against West Ham as he scored Chelsea’s first goal in the 3-1 win at Huddersfield.
Bakayoko was taken off at halftime on Saturday, but Conte today again insisted that it was a mere tactical change and that he trusts the France international.
Conte said in his press conference: “I want to be very clear, after the first half I decided to make this substitution, but it was tactical and I explained in the changing room.
“It was only tactical, not that he was playing bad but that I changed him with Pedro and to be more offensive because West Ham played with 11 players behind the ball. If I don’t trust him tonight he doesn’t start, in a big game with a lot of problems, it means I trust him and all my players. In the last game we changed a few players.”