I think he set up the team for the first half with containment as the main goal, and had a different plan already in mind for the second half, before the match even started. Tire the bastards out, use some legs which aren’t our best legs, then once the opponents run out of steam, bring on the big guns, fresh and ready to take advantage. Perhaps I am paying him too much credit, but I doubt it.
Such a ploy makes his selection for the starting XI far easier to understand and accept.
Whether pre-planned or not, the change to 433 after the break, locking down our fullback zones, giving Chiellini an injection of adrenalin, then adding fresh legs and quality to the team in a staggered manner…worked a treat.
We remain unbeaten, in a great position in the league, and that Matri goal would have given a huge boost to the players and fans alike, whilst having a deflating effect on our opponents. for so long, they thought they had us…scudetto tied up…but then…Conte’s calculated risk caught up with them.