Tottenham’s defence must go narrow against Chelsea, defences have wised up this year to counter Antonio Conte’s front three
CHELSEA have had to come up with a Plan C this season.
Last season Antonio Conte started with Plan A, then famously switched to Plan B midway through the 3-0 defeat to Arsenal.
And a 3-4-3 Plan B took them all the way to the title.
Diego Costa was their focal point in a three-man attack. Then Eden Hazard and Willian or Pedro were buzzing around him. But they played very narrow.
The two Chelsea wing-backs Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses would then push on causing the opposition defence a headache.
Full-backs would be dragged out to Alonso or Moses leaving Chelsea’s front three up against two centre-halves. That spelt trouble. A bit of movement and Chelsea were in.
This season, defences playing Chelsea have wised-up. They are staying narrow to counter the Blues front three.
What opponents have done is sacrificed the wide area. They are letting Chelsea have the ball on the flanks, but stopping them playing through the middle.
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When I played for Stoke or Southampton against bigger teams we would often sacrifice the wide area.
Obviously, you wouldn’t sacrifice a central area against a skilful side like Chelsea – it’d be too dangerous.
We would let them have it wide and cross the ball into the box – we fancied our tall and physical defenders to be able to head it away.
And that’s what teams are doing to Chelsea.
Eyebrows were raised when they were linked with Peter Crouch, Ashley Barnes and Andy Carrol in January. And they eventually signed Olivier Giroud. But it didn’t surprise me.
The time out wide they are being given means they are putting in two more crosses per game (20 to 18) than they did last season.
And they have scored more headers this season (13) than they did in the whole of last season (8). By the way, 13 is the most goals scored from headers in the Premier League this season.
But the most telling stat is that they have scored 10 fewer goals than at this time last year. That’s a big drop. They have scored the fewest goals in the top six.
And that’s why they are not fighting it out for the title.
So, it will be interesting to see how Spurs line up at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
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If they go with a back four they will look to keep it narrow. If it’s a five, they will want their wide men to tuck in.
They will sacrifice the wide areas and let Chelsea get crosses in.
They will back Davison Sanchez and Jan Vertonghen to clear that danger all day – Giroud or not.
And he’s found one – but it’s just not as fruitful as that Plan B he found last term.