Talking tactics: Chelsea expect the unexpected from Manchester United

Chelsea goes into their match with Manchester United needing all six points. What tactics can be expected from the unexpected Ole Gunnar Solskjaer?

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may be at the wheel, but the car is well of the road and driving blindly through a corn field now. After an initially amazing burst of form to start his United tenure, a run of matches that included Arsenal away, Wolves away (twice), Barcelona home and away, and Manchester City, United’s form has proved that equal and opposite reactions exist.

Still, there is hope in Solskjaer’s corner. United may be regretting that contract, but they seem intent on backing him and Solskjaer seems intent on clearing out all the players who do not have United in their souls. Also they host a Chelsea side that has failed to beat any of the top six away from home.

It would be easy for Chelsea and Maurizio Sarri to look at United’s recent form and say this fixture is winnable and to four is still on. That would be a mistake. This United side may have had a rough go of things lately, but they have already beaten Sarri’s Chelsea once. To take them lightly and underestimate them would be a colossal mistake.

Tactically, little has changed for United. They still line up in a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 diamond formation that really only changes how the front three shape up. They keep things relatively simple on offense and defense. The biggest thing that has held them back on this poor run has been the execution of those tactics.

The backline in particular has gotten much worse. Go on any social media and the picture of their back four in a straight, vertical line against City is easy to find. That shows their lack of organization defensively.

Offensively, they mainly still operate on the keep it simple method. A lower defensive line allows the front three space to run into. If they are in a 4-3-3, then the ball goes to the wingers. If they are in their diamond, it goes to a striker who has widened out before coming back into the 10.

While keeping things simple worked at first, now it is a burden again. The players were trusted to make decisions when Solskjaer first arrived but now, with their form and morale low, they do not trust themselves to make decisions like before. What was once a benefit has become a detriment as the situation has changed.

Still, the first half against Manchester City showed that Solskjaer can still squeeze a good showing out of them. They deflate quickly when they go behind (not unlike the side in Blue they will be facing) and that is where Chelsea needs to be. A fast start from Sarri’s side can end United’s chances before they begin.

But they will come into the match knowing they have beaten Chelsea comfortably just months ago. The longer they hold on, the worse things will get for Sarri and Chelsea. Anything short of a win requires Arsenal to help and that is simply not okay.