Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher recently looked at how teams can damage Chelsea.
League leaders Chelsea are currently sitting pretty, seven points clear at the top of the table after beating last years Champions Leicester 3-0 on Saturday, and when it comes to finding a way to beat the 3-4-3 system Antonio Conte has deployed, only Tottenham have found the answer.
Up next for Chelsea is a game against Hull City at home, and following this is a top of the table clash of the titans – with title rivals Liverpool.
Tottenham did well with a three at the back system earlier this month, as they sunk Chelsea with a 2-0 victory at White Hart Lane, the only defeat Chelsea have suffered since September.
Former Liverpool man Carragher believes there is one key to beating the current title race leaders – exploiting the space.
“People keep changing for Chelsea, Everton changed and got battered. Leicester were well beaten.
The one side that has beaten them of late, Tottenham, also went to three at the back but obviously they have better players than Everton and Leicester.”
The veteran defender went on to say, “Thinking of the reasons why Spurs beat them, any manager needs to think ‘Where can we hurt them? Where is the space?’
Against this Chelsea system, the space is always around the wing-backs. It is either in front of them or behind them.
When the wing-backs are high the space is behind the full-backs and teams can try to expose that by playing the long ball down the line and picking up the second ball.
When Chelsea go to a back five, the problem is the distance that the two midfield players have to cover, It’s a big problem for Chelsea.
That’s where the space is, either side of the central midfield players, and that’s wha you need to exploit against Chelsea.”
Tottenham were able to do exactly this against the Blues, with Dele Ali finding the net twice – with both goals a product of Eriksen occupying the pockets of space when Chelsea defend deep.
“It’s one thing getting into that position but you have also got to have the delivery and the finish, they are the areas where you can hurt this Chelsea team. It’s not easy but it’s something for us all to look at.” Finished the former Red.
Carraghers analysis is certainly eye opening, but his words of advice will be easier said than done when teams come up against a Chelsea side full of confidence, even in the midst of controversy regarding Diego Costa, but it’s hard to argue with Carraghers findings, and maybe a few Premier League managers will take note, and try to replicate the ideas he has put forward – maybe even Jurgen Klopp will take the advice on board.
