Chelsea’s midfielders open the road for Cesar Azpilicueta and Alvaro Morata

Cesar Azpilicueta and Alvaro Morata are on pace to break the Premier League record as the most prolific assist-goal duo. Chelsea’s midfielders make it possible for Azpilicueta to come forward into the space he needs to set up Morata.

Cesar Azpilicueta has assisted on six of Alvaro Morata’s 10 Premier League goals this season. The most common (four of the six) set-up is an in-swinging, diagonal cross off of Azpilicueta’s right foot to Morata’s head.

The first four of Azpilicueta’s assists to Morata came with Chelsea in a 3-4-3, with the most recent two coming in the 3-5-2. Except for their first link-up against Everton in match-week three, N’Golo Kante and Tiemoue Bakayoko have been together in midfield whenever Azpilicueta finds Morata. The French midfield pair enable their Spanish teammates’ unlikely battery. Bakayoko, in particular, creates the space Azpilicueta needs to let Morata start his run and then deliver the pass.

Whether Chelsea are bringing the ball up or cycling it in possession in the opposition third, Azpilicueta, Kante and Bakayoko play off each other to bring Azpilicueta into the attack. As Azpilicueta moves up towards Chelsea’s midfield line, Kante drifts to Chelsea’s left. Bakayoko, meanwhile, drives forward and centrally, taking some of the opposition with him. This leaves Azpilicueta in an open patch in the half-space with the time he and Morata need to start their link-up.

Despite Azpilicueta and Bakayoko both coming into attacking positions, this is still a secure set-up for Chelsea. Even if they were to turnover possession, they still have their two most competent tacklers – Kante and Azpilicueta – in front of the two remaining centre-backs.

Alvaro Morata’s goal against Manchester United is the most pure – almost exaggerated – demonstration of this movement. Azpilicueta brought the ball across the midfield line for Chelsea. Tiemoue Bakayoko was in the centre of the pitch, nearly perfectly halfway between Azpilicueta and Morata. Bakayoko made a diagonal run to the top corner of Manchester United’s box. He peeled two Red Devils away from Alvaro Morata, while a third stood 10 yards off of Azpilicueta. This trio of United players all had their backs to Morata as Azpilicueta launched his pass, and none were able to do more than watch the goal.

Azpilicueta’s newfound role as a playmaker adds another feature to the movement of Chelsea’s midfield. Bakayoko works best alongside Kante, particularly in the 3-4-3, because Kante provides an anchor point for Bakayoko to go forward and play freely. As Azpilicueta moves up looking for Morata, Bakayoko and Kante create space between each other so Bakayoko can draw the opposition towards him and away from Azpilicueta.

Bakayoko’s athleticism and timing enables this aspect of the game in ways his predecessor – Nemanja Matic – could not. Matic would not make off-the-ball runs away from holding midfield. If he did, the opposition would be more likely to assume he was lost rather than think they should pick up his run. Bakayoko is enough of a threat that the opposition needs to respond, even though doing so clears the way for Azpilicueta and Morata.

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Cesar Azpilicueta has already tied his career-high assist tally 20 games into the season. By transferring his skills as a right back into his new position as a centre-back, he has become an effective play-making centre-midfielder when it comes to finding Alvaro Morata. Chelsea’s actual centre-midfielders helped unlock yet another aspect of Azpilicueta’s seemingly limitless versatility.