Uefa Champions League quarterfinal, second leg
Manchester United (1) vs Chelsea (0)
Old Trafford, Manchester
Chelsea have a titanic task tonight, but it’s not impossible. It all depends on what starting eleven Chelsea pick for the game. In recent months Carlo Ancelotti’s side has made the mistake of moving away from its ‘culture’ and the 4-3-3 system that brought them so much success. It’s a system the players at Chelsea are used to and are comfortable with.
Chelsea already had one striker too many before the arrival of Fernando Torres in January, having to frequently sacrifice the prowess of Nicolas Anelka on the wings and playing Didier Drogba up-top. The arrangement worked well at the beginning of the season when Chelsea made their blistering start but by December it was showing signs of creaking.
But with the arrival of Torres things in a tactical sense have simply gone haywire. Probably under pressure from above, Ancelotti has played Drogba and Torres up-top together necessitating a change to a flat 4-4-2 formation.
However, with the type of midfielders Chelsea have, this is just not compatible.
Both Drogba and Torres’ natural movement is forwards, or at best wide. This unlike a Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez or even Anelka, all of whom can drop deeper to create danger. That’s what Rooney did so well for United in the first leg of this tie.
Chelsea’s midfield four of Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, Ramires and Yuri Zhrikov or Florent Malouda is too static and doesn’t adequately occupy, dominate or take advantage of the spaces in front or behind them. Chelsea become a sideways team when they are setup like this. Therefore ball is slow to the forwards or simply hit long.
Chelsea’s best starting XI is one that has either one of Anelka, Drogba or Torres leading the line alone. Either two of Malouda, Salomon Kalou, Zhirkov and now Yossi Benayoun can support from the wings, offering vital width Chelsea would normally lack.
This system not only gives Chelsea more attacking options but also added protection in defence. Because of the solid three-man midfield and the screen provided by the designated anchorman, be it Mikel Obi or Michael Essien, the opposition’s attacking thrusts through the middle are more easily neutralised – thrusts like Rooney’s goal in these side’s English Premiership encounter last month. And with David Luiz unavailable tonight this protection is even more important for replacement right-back Jose Bosingwa who isn’t the best defender, especially positionally. In the first leg he was often isolated and United’s goal came from his area. With protection Bosingwa becomes more of an attacking threat because is freer to push forward in the knowledge Branislav Ivanovic can cover the flank while the anchorman will then drop deep to protect the middle defensive channel.
So who does Ancelotti pick upfront to allow this return to the Chelsea 4-3-3?
Torres hasn’t scored for 10 games, his worst run since his days at Atletico Madrid. But he is still in some ways a good choice because he offers the middle-of-the-road threat of Drogba and Anelka. The Spain striker enjoys holding and leading the line like Drogba but can also offer an explosive outlet in behind the defence like Anelka, something which is can be crucial on Old Trafford’s large pitch.
Anelka has been extremely unlucky at Chelsea; whenever he’s played upfront alone he’s done well. He is clever, quick and is probably the best out-and-out finisher at Chelsea. But the standing of Drogba at the club as one of Chelsea Bravehearts, alongside captain John Terry and Lampard, hasn’t allowed Anelka to make the number 9 position his own.
Drogba offers a human battering ram particularly if Chelsea don’t get the lion’s share of the ball which, on the basis of their apparent low confidence, Chelsea might not have tonight, especially early on. Drogba allows a long ball forward chested down to an on-rushing midfielder. He allows Chelsea’s play to bypass their first two thirds of the pitch. Drogba and Lampard have had their two-man wrecking days for Chelsea – memorably against Bayern Munich in a 4-2 quarterfinal win at Stamford Bridge in 2005.
The subsequent three-man midfield is also important for other reasons.
As Fulham showed in their opening burst their Saturday Premiership visit to Old Trafford (before United settled), if Man United have a weakness then it is the space in behind the midfield and in front of the centre of defence. When Darren Fletcher doesn’t play United don’t have the consistent energy or desire to cover the space in behind. In Man United’s 3-1 loss to Liverpool last month the game was in many ways lost early on by Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes’ unwillingness, or even physical inability, to track back opposition midfield runners. They don’t really enjoy it.
If United have a two man midfield, as is likely, it also offers the opportunity for a three-man Chelsea midfield to at least strangle United physically with their size in this area.
A return to 4-3-3 also gives Lampard more freedom and resultantly a bit more space to shoot, which can be key. Simply put, quality shooting creates pressure, whether it is from deflections or resulting corner kicks. An anchorman for Chelsea will also be able to deal a bit better with the dangerous Rooney who at times did as he pleased in the first leg.
Can Chelsea win? It all depends on the selection. It’s extremely difficult to go to the Theatre Of Dreams having to win. But tonight for Chelsea this is not an impossible job. And just as the great Sir Alex Ferguson said, one goal changes everything…
The Molapo Sports Centre’s preferred Chelsea line-up
Cech
Bosingwa Ivanovic Terry Ashley Cole
Mikel
Ramires Lampard
Kalou Drogba Malouda
Note: Barcelona are already through… pigs, sadly, just don’t fly.
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