Chelsea overcame themselves with a 4-2-3-1 switch against Southampton

Chelsea were due for a disastrous day against Southampton. Then a double switch and move to 4-2-3-1 helped the Blues to overcome their terrible day.

Antonio Conte watched as his Blues side tripped over themselves. Offensively, Chelsea tried flick after flick that simply resulted in giveaways. Defensively, they pressed higher and higher only leaving acres of space in behind for Southampton to pounce into.

60 minutes in and two goals down, the match felt hopeless. Chelsea had flashes but nothing to suggest that they could come from a two goal deficit. Antonio Conte played his hand and made a double switch.

Alvaro Morata, who was the least wasteful of the attackers, was replaced in a like for like swap with Olivier Giroud. Davide Zappacosta, who had performed well but left space in behind, was replaced by Pedro.

Generally, when Pedro has come on for a wingback this season, it has only been to add a more offensive wingback option. More recently, it has been used to switch formation. The 3-4-3 gave way to a 4-2-3-1. That was the switch that won the match.

Suddenly, Chelsea were able to heap pressure onto Southampton. Giroud and the band of Eden Hazard, Willian and Pedro forced the Saints onto the back foot. As a result, Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta (now full backs), were able to press up higher and assist in the midfield and wide areas.

Conte’s tactics are often about overloading the opposition. The 3-4-3 was used so effectively last season because it almost always created a man advantage. Opponents are more familiar with it this season and have countered it. But the 4-2-3-1 switch effectively added an extra man higher up field which offered Chelsea an extra opportunity in Southampton’s half.

Another key part of the switch was the midfield pivot. With the increased pressure of an extra man on attack, Cesc Fabregas and N’Golo Kante were able to press up higher. For Fabregas, this meant he was better able to play make and play off his teammates around the box. For Kante, it meant he was able to press high and cut out most out balls attempted by Southampton.

All the increased pressure on the flanks and center overwhelmed the Saints. Hazard, Willian and Pedro were all able to drop in to receive the ball and find space for teammates. Eventually, it resulted in Olivier Giroud finding his opportunities to score the Chelsea opener and winner.

Effectively, it was a switch to the formation that Chelsea and fans turned their nose up at after 2015/2016. And ironically, it is the formation that many suggest Chelsea use under any new manager.

But Conte made his change and it worked. He has often (and rightly) been criticized for his substitutes this season but on the day he got it exactly right.

Now the question becomes if it is a permanent switch or just a game winning one. Chelsea were rocked by Southampton in the 3-4-3. In similar circumstances, Conte has both hit reset and stuck to his tried and true tactics. And just because 4-2-3-1 worked against Southampton, it does not mean it will work all the time.

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Still, the switch showed a great deal of potential and possibility. If Chelsea travel to Burnley and are similarly blasted early, then all at the Blues should consider if 4-2-3-1 is the way forward once more.