ENZO MARESCA cannot find the formula to make Chelsea consistent as they struggle against deep-lying defences.
SunSport’s tactics nerd DEAN SCOGGINS thinks boss Maresca sticking rigidly to one attacking shape is making them easier to defend against.
In our brilliant YouTube show Tactics Exposed, we explain why the Blues are misfiring against a “low block”.
And it’s not just because of Cole Palmer being injured.
BOX FRESH
Maresca uses a “box midfield” that adapts to a 2-3-5 shape when they are attacking.
But that can become predictable — and teams who defend in a 5-4-1 can create a traffic jam outside the area.
It means it often needs a piece of magic to break a team down, rather than an overload or quick break.
And Spurs could employ a back five, depending on Cristian Romero’s fitness.
NINE OR TEN
Chelsea also need to find a solution to their attack, with last term’s top two scorers — Palmer and Nicolas Jackson — injured and dumped respectively.
Joao Pedro has made a solid start but perhaps works better as a No 10, rather than leading the line as a No 9.
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Playing two up top in a more fluid and “chaotic” front four could unlock Spurs.
But beware set-pieces and long throws!
CRISS CROSS
One thing Chelsea could do is look to deploy a big switch in where players move against the Spurs defence.
An attacking midfielder and winger, for example, could cross over into one another’s starting positions and cause chaos for the Spurs defenders on who to track.
To that end, they should look to try and get a front four – rather than a front five – to maintain width and allow for more space for central players to run into.
These “crosses of chaos” can lead to the unpredictability which can open up the Spurs defence.