Chelsea blew a big opportunity to take control of their top-four hopes when they dropped points at home to Burnley on Monday, and now the task for Maurizio Sarri’s side gets tougher: a trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.
The Blues have been outscored 13 to one in four previous away games against the rest of the Premier League‘s big six this season, but United’s current poor form could mean they are there for the taking.
Here’s a look at the tactics Sarri could use to give Chelsea’s Champions League qualification push a boost. Check out our analysis of United’s tactics here.
OVERLOAD LEFT WING WITH HAZARD AND CO
In Chelsea’s last big away game, Sarri started Eden Hazard as a false nine against Liverpool. It kept the home defence under pressure but reduced the Belgian’s effectiveness as well, and his two best opportunities came after striker Gonzalo Higuain was brought on.
United have a weakness at right-back. Ashley Young is in terrible form at the moment, yet unless Matteo Darmian being brought in from the cold in midweek is a signal of a new lease of life for the Italian, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer doesn’t have an alternative – he doesn’t trust Diogo Dalot defensively yet.
Having Hazard stick to the left wing, with midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek and left-back Emerson helping Chelsea overload that side, would take advantage of United’s vulnerability and potentially be the key to a Blues win.
KANTE CAN NEUTRALISE POGBA
N’Golo Kante has never quite been a traditional defensive midfielder – his two Premier League titles have come with first Danny Drinkwater and then Nemanja Matic sitting deep next to him, allowing the Frenchman to play a box-to-box role that still brought out his best qualities defensively.
Sarri’s focus on getting the best out of Kante in attacking is finally starting to pay off, but on Sunday he may compromise and have the midfielder focus on stopping compatriot Paul Pogba.
Marco Verratti was able to effectively mark Pogba out of the game when Paris Saint-Germain played at Old Trafford earlier this season, and Kante could do the same. There’s no one for Solskjaer who can replicate the United man’s creativity, so neutralising him would kill the Red Devils’ attacks at source.
For the very latest news, analysis and opinion download the Sport360 app
