Enzo Maresca has reacted quickly to Chelsea’s shock loss to Sunderland in the Premier League last weekend.
The Blues were strong favourites to win, being at home and entering the match in good form.
They were on a run of four consecutive victories in all competitions, beating Ajax 5-1 in the Champions League last time out.
It looked like Chelsea were going to make it five after Alejandro Garnacho scored in just the fourth minute against Sunderland. However, Regis Le Bris’ side clearly had other ideas.
Alejandro Garnacho celebrates scoring for Chelsea against Sunderland in the Premier League.
Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images
Chelsea analysts watching previous losses to back fives
Lining up with a back five, Sunderland were able to win the game 2-1 in the end, shocking Stamford Bridge.
Playing against teams who use a five-man defence, low block or both is something that Chelsea have really struggled with under Maresca.
However, the Chelsea manager has now decided to take action, instructing his analysts to watch all of last season’s games where his side lost to a back five.
According to the Daily Mail, after telling the analysts at Chelsea to do that, the Italian hopes he can find a way to break down such set-ups.
The Club World Cup winners’ next Premier League game is against Tottenham Hotspur, who are now managed by Thomas Frank.
Frank’s defensive tactics at Brentford have caused Chelsea plenty of problems in the past, so their trip to north London on Saturday will be a real test.
Maresca is pleased with Garnacho right now, and he is at least one positive to take away from the Sunderland game after scoring his first goal for the club. His manager will be hoping that he can grab another one in this weekend’s London derby.
Enzo Maresca watches his Chelsea side against Sunderland in the Premier League match.
Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images
Sunderland tactics caught Enzo Maresca by surprise
Sunderland have used a back four all season, so when they lined up in a back five at Stamford Bridge, it completely threw Maresca off.
“I watched all the Sunderland games in the Premier League before our game, they never played with a back five from the start. Never. So we prepared for the Sunderland game against a back four,” the Italian was quoted as saying by Chelsea’s official club website.
The Blues won two trophies and are one of the best teams in England, though. Maresca should always be prepared for the possibility of facing such a defensive set-up.