Why 3-4-3 Is Not Chelsea’s Best Strategy Going Forward

While Graham Potter’s decision to go back to a back-three configuration has resulted in three straight victories, this strategy may cause Chelsea problems down the road.

Several of the Chelsea players just fit this setup, as Potter recently noted.

According to Mateo Kovacic, being acquainted with this framework is also beneficial.

Why then shouldn’t Chelsea just stick with this formation?

The team has made too many investments in wide attackers to profit from this, is the succinct response.

There are many other explanations.

Wingbacks like Ben Chilwell and Reece James, who Paul Merson described as “really talented attacking players,” are often the ones that provide the team width in a 3-4-3.

While this isn’t always the case as wing-backs may sometimes run in close formation rather than moving wide, it would simply reduce their capacity to provide crosses, and James in particular is a very excellent crosser.

Wingbacks or wingers

The two wide forwards behind the striker in this system will have to move more centrally to make room for these wing-backs.

Yet, other players, such Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Maduke, Hakim Ziyech, and Christian Pulisic, prefer to play on the wings. This fits players like Joao Felix, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, and maybe Christopher Nkunku, who is anticipated to join Chelsea this summer.

At the conclusion of the current campaign, Ziyech and Pulisic may leave Chelsea, but the other players are certain to remain.

It’s important to note that in the previous three games, both Sterling and Mudryk had to play false nine positions to give Havertz the freedom to roam in the final third.

There would only be room for two attackers in the squad if Chelsea were looking for a new number nine, as some rumours imply.

The argument in opposition is that Potter recently attempted a back-four and it was obvious that it did not work.

Chelsea will have the opportunity to alter that during the summer transfer window, however.

For instance, a new holding midfielder will free up club-record signing Enzo Fernandez to concentrate on becoming a playmaker. Kante as well, but in his case to pursue the ball and get control in the same manner that he typically does.

While Chilwell and James would not have as much flexibility, their primary role is that of protectors. Instead of being the main danger, they need to have supporting roles in the assault. Chelsea brought in Mudryk, Sterling, and Madueke specifically for that purpose.