Chelsea have the prospect to shut the hole between themselves and Liverpool within the Premier League desk to simply two factors with a win in opposition to Brentford, which might additionally transfer them 4 factors forward of third-place Arsenal.
Enzo Maresca continues to say Chelsea aren’t in a title race, however a victory in opposition to the Bees would make it very laborious for him to proceed with these notions. Chelsea are averaging the fourth-highest possession within the league this season with 56.4%, are taking 15.3 photographs per recreation (fourth most once more), and are solely conceding 11.6 photographs per recreation (sixth fewest within the division).
Nevertheless, the Italian will likely be absolutely centered on going one recreation at a time, with this recreation in opposition to Brentford being handled the identical as every other, which might embrace some extra tactical tweaks, particularly within the absence of Roméo Lavia.
Chelsea workforce information pre-Brentford
Three gamers who will definitely be out for the Blues are Reece James, Wesley Fofana and Pedro Neto. James and Fofana each lacking via harm, while Neto is suspended after choosing up six yellow playing cards within the Premier League.
Mykhailo Mudryk is one other who probably gained’t be concerned, as he has missed Chelsea’s final three video games, being out via sickness. Lastly, it additionally appears Lavia must be monitored after being taken off at half-time in opposition to Tottenham, affected by hamstring ache.
With the Belgian midfielder more likely to miss out, Maresca must discover one other solution to set his facet up, shifting his Chelsea jigsaw round and getting his finest obtainable gamers into the workforce.
Chalkboard
Soccer FanCast’s Chalkboard collection presents a tactical dialogue from across the world recreation.
How Chelsea can fill the Romeo Lavia void
Maresca has labelled defender Marc Cucurella as very “important” up to now for his Chelsea facet, and with Lavia lacking, the Italian will probably use the Spaniard to configure his workforce appropriately, platforming the likes of Enzo Fernández, Moises Caicedo and Cole Palmer so as to get the perfect from them.
The flexibility of Cucurella, who maybe was somewhat “embarrassing” within the phrases of Jamie Carragher in opposition to Spurs final weekend, permits Maresca to maneuver him into vast central defender positions, as we’ve got seen typically this season, taking part in on the left of a again three in possession – but in addition invert into midfield at each deeper and extra superior heights.
|
Cucurella vs Lavia comparability |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (per 90 minutes) |
Cucurella |
Lavia |
|
Assists |
0.06 |
0.19 |
|
Progressive Carries |
1.15 |
0.38 |
|
Progressive Passes |
3.46 |
3.21 |
|
Key Passes |
0.54 |
1.13 |
|
Passes into Remaining Third |
3.92 |
5.66 |
|
Tackles |
2.08 |
2.83 |
|
Blocks |
1.62 |
1.13 |
|
Interceptions |
0.84 |
2.00 |
|
Recoveries |
4.15 |
4.53 |
|
Aerial Duels Gained |
0.85 |
1.13 |
|
Stats taken from FBref |
||
In opposition to Brentford, the full-back will probably invert alongside Caicedo. In flip, it will permit Fernandez to advance into the left half-space, obtain the ball and dictate play from this zone, the place he has discovered immense success in latest weeks, scoring three objectives and registering three assists in his final 5. Cucurella supplies further stability alongside Caicedo to cowl Fernandez’s defensive qualities, having related restoration numbers to Lavia.
Not solely does the Euro 2024 winner deliver the off-ball tenacity wanted to maintain stress in these central areas, however he additionally has the on-ball qualities that Lavia can present, making 3.46 progressive passes per 90 and 1.15 progressive carries per 90.
Maresca can stability the workforce in Lavia’s absence with the utility of Cucurella inverting into midfield, permitting everybody to nonetheless occupy their best-attacking zones, and the Blues to suffocate Brentford in their very own half, being aggressive off the ball, and counter-pressing with excessive depth.
Associated
Maresca should unleash “discount” Chelsea star who’s as vital as Palmer
The “discount” signing ought to begin for Chelsea in opposition to Brentford this night.
