Image for Enzo Maresca left stumped by Leeds United team news – Daniel Farke could get upper hand
Image for Enzo Maresca left stumped by Leeds United team news – Daniel Farke could get upper hand
Leeds United’s change to a 3-5-2 against Manchester City has left Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca confused as to how the Whites will set up this evening.
Daniel Farke is simply running out of time to get wins on the board, in order to avoid the sack. However, this week’s challenge couldn’t be much tougher as we face Chelsea tonight and Liverpool on Saturday, both at Elland Road.
Key scrutiny of the Leeds boss stems from an inability to adapt from previously poor performances. It was something that shifted dramatically when United came out for their second half against Manchester City.
What formation will Leeds United and Daniel Farke go for tonight against Chelsea?
If it were up to me, as noted in my predicted XI, a 3-5-2 seems a total no brainer at this point for Farke against Chelsea.
Daniel Farke is getting calls from the Leeds United fanbase to change formation. (REUTERS/Phil Noble)
Of course, Farke stresses that just changing the formation doesn’t really affect the core principles, which would have to change too. That said, our performance at City improved drastically through Farke changing to a back three and playing more directly into his players that feed off that style.
Against Chelsea, Farke is going to be without one of his key starters from the Etihad in Dan James. As a result, he’s shorter for right-wing options again, lending itself to moving into a 3-5-2 and getting more support to the in-form Lukas Nmecha with another striker.
Enzo Maresca left confused by Leeds United’s possible formation change tonight
As Chelsea prepare to take on Leeds, Blues boss Enzo Maresca was quizzed about United’s possible shift to a new formation after the performance at Man City.
Enzo Maresca previewed Chelsea’s visit to Leeds United this evening. (REUTERS/Hannah Mckay)
Interestingly, Maresca’s and his analytical team’s research uncovered that it’s incredibly rare for Farke to do anything other than play a back four.
This is a good question. I don’t know,” Maresca told Football.London about Farke changing system.
“Farke played more than 200 games with Norwich and he played just 16/17 games with a back five. With Leeds, he played all games as a back four, apart from the second-half against Man City, he played a back five.”
Daniel Farke needs to become unpredictable if he wants to stay at Leeds United
In this losing run we’ve experienced, Leeds have become so easy to play against. That’s on Farke, not the players playing poorly.
Unai Emery outlined it clearly after Aston Villa’s win at Elland Road. He noted Leeds’ spaces down the left channel and made a double sub to exploit it, paying off within minutes after half-time. And, Farke took too long to rectify it as Villa ended up winning.
Playing the same way, with the same personnel, in the same formation makes us so easy to prepare for. Maresca, here, is outlining how he’s always expected Farke to play in a back four.
Chelsea’s pressing structure might well be coached into Leeds setting up in a 4-3-3. If we shift to a 3-5-2 and have that adaptability, it throws that part of the game into more chaos. That suits us.