Chelsea beat Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 within the Champions League on Wednesday night after going a purpose down early within the recreation.
It was but once more one other new formation from Graham Potter, lining up with a again 4. This has and at all times can be my most well-liked line-up, and I actually hope that Potter has seen the advantages of this formation and continues with it now and sooner or later.
Potter lined up with a 4-3-3 variation. It appeared extra like a 4-3-1-2, like this:
This had many positives, most notably for Raheem Sterling, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Kai Havertz, extra safety for Jorginho, Mason Mount, and higher defensive stability. I feel Cesar Azpilicueta has his limitations, however he’s at all times going to be extra comfy in a again 4. It’s the best way to go for us for now, till we are able to make additional signings.
Sterling was good, far more concerned, and far more harmful being in and across the field extra. That is his greatest place for us, and this formation permits it. He must be superior.
I beloved seeing Aubameyang vast on the left, he offered completely different issues and I truly suppose the second half was one of the best we’ve got seen so removed from him by way of group play and ball contributions. I beloved seeing him play extra as a winger, dealing with up defenders and enjoying in the direction of the purpose. He was reducing in on his proper foot and appeared actually harmful.
Havertz was given a free function and was in a position to drift wherever he needed to go. He was enjoying within the ten function I suppose, and this allowed him to be the connector between midfield and assault, and he did that very effectively. This place fits him.
We performed a midfield three, which means Jorginho had Mount and Denis Zakaria enjoying very near him and this allowed him to have the ability to have extra time on the ball to seek out passes, and likewise extra cowl and assist to trace runners and our bodies to defend. I’m at all times selecting a midfield three with this present setup. However the best way Potter positioned this midfield three I feel was key; Mount and Zakaria have been like half 8s, they weren’t full 8s bombing ahead on a regular basis, they each stayed very near Jorginho.
I at all times need to see Mason play deeper, that’s the place you’ll at all times get one of the best out of him, and it was confirmed as soon as once more final night time. He was hungry and at all times constructive and progressive with the ball. Should hold enjoying as an 8, no debate.
Having a again 4 with full backs largely defending over anything, gave us numbers while defending, and likewise allowed for these additional ahead to focus on attacking. Mount and Zakaria, enjoying as a part of that effectively positioned midfield three, have been in a position to assist out the complete backs as effectively defensively, which means that each one the likes of Havertz, Aubameyang, and Sterling needed to do was assault.
It wasn’t excellent, we must always have scored extra and struggled once more to make that remaining decisive cross at instances. One other group may have punished us for not discovering that third purpose. The opposition gave us loads of time on the ball, so we weren’t absolutely examined. Nevertheless, the positives I’ve drawn upon above have been all actually from tactical selections from Potter, and as soon as once more, he has at all times confirmed to be a prime tactical coach. We noticed that once more final night time. He’s at all times ready to be versatile, and I actually favored how he setup final night time. I simply hope that now he has seen that that is what we have to construct on and excellent, relatively than a 3-4-3 and utilizing wingbacks (that aren’t wingbacks).
