Lampard wins the rematch against Mourinho by the narrow usage of Mount and Barkley
Frank Lampard’s switch to 3–4–3 saw him outplay Jose Mourinho in the reverse fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Pressing Spurs’ three man build up and using Marcos Alonso to overload the left wing shackled Tottenham. It was 1–0 to the apprentice but that was only half time as another encounter beckoned at Stamford Bridge.
On Saturday, both teams returned to a back three — albeit Spurs playing a back three in possession even in a four man backline in some games — Spurs sat deep in a 5–4–1 shape while Chelsea played in a 3–4–2–1 with Mason Mount and Ross Barkley narrow behind Olivier Giroud.
Mount and Barkley’s narrowness allowed them to collect Giroud’s flick ons and caused confusion in the Spurs’ lines. Confusion as Spurs’ midfield duo Harry Winks and Tanguy Ndombele were concerned with Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic leaving behind them Mount and Barkley who positioned themselves between the lines. The Spurs center-backs weren’t sure whether to be dragged out of position, creating gaps in the defensive line or keep their places allowing Mount and Barkley to operate freely.
An example early on showcases that. With Giroud positioning far away to the right side, Mount’s initial narrow positioning enables him to make an un-tracked central run behind Spurs’ defence.
Alonso spots Mount’s run and plays a wicked ball behind the Spurs defence. Davinson Sanchez and Toby Alderweireld are late to pick up the run, because initially Sanchez was keeping tabs on Barkley and Alderweireld was far away from Mount due to Mount’s deep positioning.
Mount manages to squeeze a shot towards the near post but Hugo Lloris saves it. What’s interesting here is Barkley’s positioning, narrow just outside the box ready for the rebound.
An aerial view also shows Mount’s initial positioning away from Alderweireld allowing him to make the run seamlessly.
Winks and Ndombele’s role to press Jorginho and Kovacic left a gap behind them for Barkley and Mount to drop into. This was helped by Barkley and Mount’s narrow positioning behind Giroud rather than wide on the wings. Here, Barkley can receive freely between the lines as Sanchez can’t go out and damage Spurs’ shape.
Once Barkley got the ball and Sanchez thought of going out to press him, Giroud makes a run inside forcing Sanchez back and also dragging Alderweireld with him.
This creates a gap in the Spurs defence and more importantly gives Barkley the freedom to advance with no one to face his shot.
Barkley then advances and shoots with no pressure in-front of him but his shot goes out close to the far post.
Once Spurs defenders decided to track Mount and Barkley’s movements it damaged their shape. In the build up to Chelsea’s first goal Jan Vertonghen follows Mount into midfield creating a gap in the Spurs defensive line.
The gap created between Vertonghen and Alderweireld was utilized by Jorginho who instinctively plays a line splitting pass for Giroud in that space.
Giroud’s first effort is saved by Lloris, but like in Mount’s early chance Barkley’s initial narrow positioning puts him in the perfect place for the rebound. Barkley hits the post and then Giroud glamorously strikes the ball past Lloris.
The narrow positioning of Mount and Barkley coupled with Winks and Ndombele’s role of pressing Jorginho and Kovacic meant that Mount and Barkley can drop easily in between the lines to collect the ball.
The Spurs’ defence couldn’t push up as a unit because regularly Giroud and the other player whether Mount or Barkley would be making forward runs. Therefore, one Spurs player pushing up would harm the defensive shape. Here, Sanchez is left in no man’s land as he’s far from Barkley while the other four Spurs defenders are running backwards.
Other than dropping between the lines and forcing the Spurs defenders out of position, the narrowness of Mount and Barkley allowed them to constantly contest the second balls after Giroud’s aerial duels. This was clearly visible in Chelsea’s second goal.
After Mount collects Giroud’s flick on, he twists Vertonghen inside out and plays a pass to Barkley. With the Spurs defence shifted to their left side Japhet Tanganga goes inside to keep horizontal compactness and track Barkley’s narrow positioning.
As a result Alonso’s wing back vs wing back duel is now a wing-back vs null. Barkley sees that and plays a one touch pass into the path of the onrushing Spaniard. Alonso smashes it into the far post to make it 2–0.
The distance between any of the Spurs defenders and Mount/Barkley was vast and it’s not as easy as just going out into midfield and marking them. If Vertonghen moves out here, it allows Tammy Abraham to make a run into the space behind him and Reece James is quite capable of playing that pass with his left foot.
Vertonghen decides to go out towards Mount once James plays the pass to the midfielder. Mount spots Vertonghen’s run and flicks the ball behind the Belgian defender beating him for pace. Vertonghen isn’t slow but the immediate change of direction freezes him and catches him out.
Into the box, Mount plays an exquisite ball for Abraham to score the third. Unfortunately for the Blues, Abraham’s finish isn’t as good as Mount’s efforts and the score stays at 2–0.
Lampard’s midfield box controlled the game, outplaying his former coach for the second time this season. The positioning of Mount and Barkley presented the Spurs defence with a dilemma, push out and you create a gap that can be used by the other attackers. Stay deep and you will allow Mount and Barkley to create.
Chelsea’s season has been peaks and troughs. Impressive performances here and there, but also some questionable ones. The judgement on Lampard as a manager still varies, yet he has shown once again his tactical ability.
Europe beckons and the ever lasting question is, can the apprentice repeat his master’s achievement sixteen years ago ?
