Pochettino’s perfect plan exposes Chelsea’s inflexibility
Spurs have been hit hard by injuries lately, and despite the long injury list they have managed to win their last four games in all competitions. Mainly due to the underrated performances of Moussa Sissoko and Erik Lamela. Sissoko who Pochettino moved to the right of midfield to compensate for Dembele’s absence has showed great resilience in that position. Lamela meanwhile has been the creative force upfront in the absence of Chrisitan Eriksen. Chelsea on the other hand continue breathing down Manchester City’s neck, but their recent performances in big games gave a glimpse of how Sarri’s team can be neutralized.
On Saturday, they visited Wembley to face Spurs, a game which should have been played at Spurs new stadium if not for the delays. Chelsea started in their usual 4–3–3 with no major absentees. Spurs’ lineup saw the return of Son and Eriksen with Serge Aurier replacing the injured Trippier. Spurs fielded a hybrid 4–3–1–2/4–3–3 system at the start of the game with Dele Alli moving to the left side of the front three when Spurs were on the front foot.
Spurs attacked from the first minute searching for crosses from the right side. Aurier’s cross found Kane, but his header was too weak to cause any threat for Kepa. The 4–3–3 part of this hybrid system wasn’t only designed for aerial threat and matching Chelsea’s 4–3–3 as was the situation when Spurs switched to a 3–4–3 to match Antonio Conte’s with Alli having the upper hand over Azpilicueta aerially. It was mainly to disrupt Chelsea’s build up and force Kepa into long balls which was an easier task for Dier, Alderweireld and Foyth especially considering that it was Morata who’s starting not Giroud.
This gave Spurs total control in the first minutes, and it was complemented by the other part of the hybrid system. The 4–3–1–2, which gave Alli the positional advantage to man-mark Jorginho throughout the game, continuously pressing the deep lying play-maker and blocking passing options into him.
Chelsea’s most identifiable defensive deficiency this season has been the space behind the full backs especially Marcos Alonso. Arsenal aimed to exploit that in the opening match of the season and scored twice, but failed to win the game partly due to Alonso’s offensive contributions. Manchester United’s second goal at Stamford Bridge stemmed also from Mata invading that space. Despite Alonso’s offensive contributions of a goal and three assists thus far, the space vacated by him has been targeted by other clubs. Pochettino also targeted that area and Kane and Son were focusing their runs into the space behind the full backs. One of those runs resulted in a free kick near the edge of the box. Eriksen’s exquisite cross found Alli’s header to open the scoring.
After the early goal Spurs abandoned the hybrid system and stuck with the 4–3–1–2 dropping deeper to give Chelsea the illusion of controlling the game. Alli kept breathing down Jorginho’s neck but it was Spurs’ right side that contained Chelsea. Hazard’s roaming towards the center and the left channel have proved effective throughout the season netting seven goals and providing four assists. In addition to him being arguably the standout performer in the Premier League, his movements are regularly tracked by the opposition’s full back and center back leaving space for the onrushing Marcos Alonso. Pochettino’s plan wasn’t only to stop Hazard but to break down Chelsea’s left side. Foyth was given the responsibility of marking Hazard once he roamed to the channel or centrally, when Hazard dropped deeper centrally he was sandwiched by Dier and Foyth. Aurier and Sissoko defended the right wing and right channel respectively neutralizing Alonso’s overlapping runs and Kovacic. They also took the responsibility of Hazard once he occupied their zones so Foyth won’t move out of position. The space vacated by Hazard was controlled, and the Belgian himself was chained.
Alli’s positioning at the tip of the diamond and Spurs strong defensive right side meant that he was the main station for ball progression on counter attacks. His pass for Son who ran into the space behind Alonso could have doubled the lead if Son had finished it better. In terms of ball progression, Spurs focused on long balls towards Harry Kane in the left channel to avoid Chelsea’s press. Kane’s aerial ability and his movements towards the left side caused issues for Chelsea as Rudiger had to move out of position to duel with Kane aerially. The positioning of Rudiger created gaps which was complemented by Spurs’ freedom of movement upfront and Son’s chance after the first goal should have struck the back of net. In aid of maintaining compactness, Rudiger didn’t track Kane as he dropped deeper. The striker had enough space in the left channel to control the ball and strike it into the net to double Spurs’ lead.
Chelsea’s non-threatening control of possession continued and in a deja-vu situation Aurier intercepted the ball on the right side then passed it to the main station for counter attacks, Dele Alli. Alli again gave it to Son in the space vacated by Alonso. However, this time Son managed to score in a moment of brilliance as he glided past Jorginho then dribbled past Luiz to finally put it in the net. At 3–0 Pochettino decided to drop Son deeper to add more protection to the right wing morphing into a 4–4–1–1 shape.
As Chelsea were searching for a lifeline back in the game, spaces appeared in their half and Alli roamed to the left side as Spurs went back to the hybrid system that they started the game in. Kane came close to add the fourth goal but he peculiarly missed the target. Alli’s left side presence came to call when he combined with Kane in the box but his shot went over the post. Giroud managed to clinch a late consolation goal for Sarri’s team but it was too late as Chelsea were already on the medical ventilators.
Sarri’s style of play have been highly praised in the last couple of seasons, but inflexibility is a common theme that has emerged between his Napoli and Chelsea sides. Superior teams have decoded the enigma and a template to stop this Chelsea team is starting to appear.
Spurs’ containment of Chelsea’s left side after the early goal and transitioning into a deeper block with a plan to attack the spaces behind Alonso proved effective on the day. Effectiveness that Spurs have shown recently in the last couple of games despite lacking the free flowing football. Two crucial games up next for them, first Inter at Wembley in the Champions League, then a short trip to the Emirates to face a much improved Arsenal team. Pochettino’s side have convinced and entertained but we are yet to see whether the Argentine can finally guide them to the gates of Valhalla.
