The Chelsea team sheet has come in for today’s game, and it’s one of the most interesting of Enzo Maresca’s reign so far.
Long gone are the early weeks of the season where you could predict the team perfectly – barring any last minute injuries that hadn’t gone public. Maresca is changing things regularly now, according to form, injury, fitness and opposition.
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A tactical view of Chelsea's formation.
Enzo Fernandez applauds the away fans at the King Power Stadium. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Levi Colwill celebrates with Enzo Maresca. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
Today it looks to use like he’s done what a lot of fans have called for and selected a straight back 3, and the manager’s pregame comments quoted on the club’s official website hinted at a change of shape of some kind:
“There could be [a change in shape], let’s see. The idea is to always form a different game plan which depends on our team and the other team. We decided to go with Romeo, Moi and Enzo, and hopefully, it will work. It’s a big game and a tough game, in the same way the rest of the games have been. In this moment, we aren’t focused on the top four, we are focused on the game.”
A tactical view of Chelsea's formation.
A tactical view of Chelsea’s formation.
Maresca tinkers throughout his side
Also notable is the dropping of Noni Madueke, who has held down his Premier League place since the second week of the season. Jadon Sancho comes in on the left, with Pedro Neto presumably moving to the right.
We’re not sure if this is all because Malo Gusto isn’t fully fit, or if this is a master plan to continue gradually moving towards a 3 at the back with Neto or Moises Caicedo dropping to right back when Chelsea are out of possession.
Certainly the way the players arrange themselves for kick off will attract a fair bit of attention, as will the first few minutes of the game as fans try to figure out what’s what.