Stability eludes Chelsea’s defence with David Luiz’s suspension

Chelsea have used four different defensive lineups in six games this season. They will continue the search for stability during David Luiz’s suspension.

For most of last season Antonio Conte had only two choices to make when writing Chelsea’s team-sheet: Cesc Fabregas or Nemanja Matic in midfield, Willian or Pedro on the wing. The rest of the XI filled in almost by rote. While Conte had a choice to make among the midfielders and forwards, his back-line was never in question. His makeshift trio of Gary Cahill, David Luiz and Cesar Azpilicueta were as automatic as the man they were protecting between the sticks.

So far this season, those three have played 87 minutes as a defensive unit. In the opener against Burnley, Azpilicueta started at right wing-back instead of centre-back as Victor Moses served his suspension. The three were on the pitch together for only 14 minutes until Gary Cahill saw red.

Cahill’s return from suspension reunited the group for the first time this season on Sunday against Arsenal. And, thanks to David Luiz’s straight red card late in the game, the three will have to wait for another opportunity to link up.

Antonio Conte deployed two different defences during Cahill’s absence. Antonio Rudiger played on the left and Cesar Azpilicueta played on the right in both. Andreas Christensen took the centre spot against Tottenham as David Luiz moved into central midfield. Luiz then returned to centre-back against Everton and Leicester. Against Qarabag in the Champions League, Cahill and Azpilicueta flanked Christensen.

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True to form, Cesar Azpilicueta has been the closest thing to a point of stability among the back-line. Except for opening day and the final 15 minutes against Qarabag, he has been the right centre-back for every minute of Chelsea’s young season.

Azpilicueta has shown the toll these changes have taken. He has yet to have the locked-down, quietly commanding performances that define his time at Chelsea. Statistically his performances have been in line with his teammates, and he has not committed any errors that led to a goal or strong chance. But he has not had a game where he repels attackers, tackles them into oblivion and sends the opposition looking for any other way to approach Chelsea’s goal.

Antonio Conte prefers Christensen as Luiz’s back-up. The Dane will likely play Chelsea’s next three domestic games (Nottingham Forest, Stoke City, Manchester City). Luiz will play against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, in the centre of the once-stable back-three.

Christensen excelled against Qarabag, and can take advantage of Luiz’s absence and Chelsea’s defensive cycling to rewrite the team sheet. Christensen has the Stoke and Manchester City games to show Antonio Conte under two very different circumstances what the new normal should be. Injuries and suspensions are often the only openings a player has to break into a Conte squad. Christensen will be ready to prove that he should be a regular in the starting XI.

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Conte and Chelsea will just have to hope that history is not stuck in a loop, and no defender sees red on October 14 against Crystal Palace.