Antonio Conte hails 'amazing' Michy Batshuayi after brace in Watford win repays faith

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Vaishali Bhardwaj21 October 2017

Antonio Conte was delighted that Michy Batshuayi re-paid his faith in him with his brace in Chelsea's 4-2 comeback win over Watford on Saturday.

The Belgian, who received heavy criticism for his performance in Chelsea's 2-1 loss away to Crystal Palace last weekend, came on as a 61st-minute substitute for Alvaro Morata at Stamford Bridge and hauled the Blues back into the contest with his header 10 minutes later.

The goal levelled the score at 2-2 before Cesar Azpilicueta's header and then an added-time effort from Batshuayi sealed a 4-2 victory for Chelsea and ensured the champions didn't lose for the third successive Premier League game.

Batshuayi has been used mostly as a sub since signing for Chelsea from Marseille last summer, and Conte insisted the striker has steadily improved and showed his worth against Watford.

When asked about his substitution decisions against Marco Silva's side, Conte said: "I think the substitutions sometimes work, sometimes it doesn’t work.

"I think every coach during the game it’s important also to understand the right moment [to make a sub]. If there is a situation to improve and to change.

"I am pleased for Michy because he scored two goals but his impact during the game was also amazing. I think it was the same for Willian and [Davide] Zappacosta. I was pleased also for the performance of the players I changed.

"Sometimes when you play three games in a row and the same players it’s important to make important decisions. So sometimes these decisions work, sometimes they don’t work. Today I was lucky."

He then elaborated further on Batshuayi, saying: "Don’t forget Michy is a young player. For him this is the first big experience with a great team.

"If you compare this season with last season, Michy now this season is playing a lot. Sometimes against Crystal Palace his performance wasn’t good but not only Batshuayi’s performance. The whole team played bad in that moment.

"I have a squad and I trust in every one of my players. I think and I try to transfer this message to my players. Today the impact was incredible and important, it must continue in this way. Work, work, work.

"To have the passion to improve and understand, he has to wait for his moment and then when he has the chance to show he is improving. If you compare this with last season you can see he is playing a lot. Last season he never played."