Chelsea concluded their pre-season tour of the USA in style, defeating AC Milan 3-1 in Minneapolis. Bertrand Traoré netted the opener but Giacomo Bonaventura’s fantastic free-kick on the brink of half-time levelled proceedings. Oscar converted Chelsea’s penalty to make it 2-1 on 61 minutes after Poli’s handball, and the Brazilian signed, sealed and delivered the win for the Blues as he slotted a low shot past Donnarumna for his second.
It was a sellout game with the attendance rising above 64,000 inside the US Bank Stadium, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings. Antonio Conte’s men were pretty lacklustre in the first half, but improved after the interval as players like Eden Hazard, Oscar, Michy Batshuayi and N’Golo Kanté were all introduced. Here’s three things we learned…
N’Golo Kanté’s arrival gives Conte great tactical flexibility
The system was altered a couple of times in the second half, with the former Premier League champions utilising 4-2-4 to begin with, then 4-3-3 on the ball and five flat across the middle when off it. Oscar replaced Cesc Fábregas, and Chelsea switched to a 4-2-3-1 with the Brazilian in the hole. It was then a 4-1-4-1 when defending, with N’Golo Kanté holding and Nemanja Matic and Oscar ahead.
These changes in shape were subsequent to the introduction of Kanté for his debut, the tenacious midfielder who was signed from Leicester for £32 million in July. Chelsea’s No.7 topped the Premier League charts for most tackles and interceptions made in 2015/16. His ability to break up play with ridiculous ease and workmanlike abilities gives Antonio Conte great tactical flexibility in the upcoming season.
Kanté played in a three, in five across the middle, in a midfield two and held by himself last night, equally as good in each role. Chelsea’s No.7 grants Antonio Conte the versatility to try out many different formations in 2016/17—the now 47-year-old was accused of being tactically inflexible during his time at Juventus and Italy—and tinker with the system when we are not playing well (see last night).
The Frenchman also got the best out of those around him. Nemanja Matić was not playing good, but improved once Kanté came on. Oscar has struggled in pre-season but flourished when used as a more traditional No.10 last night, knowing he could neglect his defensive duties with the 25-year-old lynchpin in midfield.
Conte needs to find the perfect balance in midfield to accommodate Fábregas
Cesc Fábregas is a maestro on the football, but last night against AC Milan proved the inevitable: he doesn’t suit the 4-2-4. Cesc looked slow and immobile as the Rossoneri exposed his defensive flaws in central midfield.
You can’t drop Cesc. If you do, the midfield will be too one-dimensional. Instead, Conte should play Fábregas in a three-man midfield (either a 4-3-3 or 4-1-4-1) alongside more defensive-minded players—ala Nemanja Matić and N’Golo Kanté—permitting the Spaniard the liberty to do what he does best, pulling the strings without having to fulfill many defensive responsibilities.
When you think of it, they are the only two formations (which Chelsea have the personnel to play) that Fábregas can shine in. He can’t play in a 4-4-2 for the same reasons he can’t play in a 4-2-4. We know he can’t play in the pivot and he is unsuited to No.10.
It gives Chelsea no option but the best one, for the rest of the players, and their best playmaker.
Chelsea need to sign defenders
If you thought sticking Ola Aina at full-back would solve all Chelsea’s problems at the back, then you’re a bit of an idiot.
The Blues have been a bit of a shambles in defence this pre-season, picking up where they left off in the 2015/16 Premier League campaign. We have conceded six goals in five pre-season games, as Conte’s safeguard has been less safe and more fragile.
Conte has moved onto Gary Cahill and John Terry as a pairing, after he tried and tested the duo of Terry and Papy Djilobodjj at the heart of defence. It hasn’t been any different, with Cahill, incidentally, a worse player than Djilobodji. I’m a big fan of Kurt Zouma, but he’s not the organiser, the solid, quality defender with great positional sense that Chelsea are sorely lacking at the moment.
With just ten days to go until Chelsea grace the Stamford Bridge field once again for another Premier League season, Chelsea’s centre-backs remain John Terry, Gary Cahill, Papy Djilobodji and Kurt Zouma, who doesn’t return from his ACL injury until September. Kalidou Koulibaily looks to be staying at Napoli, whilst Valencia and Germany’s Shkodran Mustafi has attracted interest from other clubs, including Chelsea.
One centre-back, at the very minimum, is required. Two would be ideal. Two and a full-back would be the icing on the cake for the former Champions League winners.
The time, is running out.
