Antonio Conte is reigniting lost hope by playing two proper strikers side-by-side. And here we thought Emerson would be the only exciting thing about Chelsea’s starting XI.
Olivier Giroud is fulfilling all of our dreams. After months of false-nine’s and repetitive 3-4-3’s, Antonio Conte is finally embracing a true dual-striker formation. Giroud and Alvaro Morata are starting together for the first time, with Pedro in some sort of No. 10-style role in support of the two strikers.
Elsewhere in the starting XI, Emerson is making his first Premier League start, while Tiemoue Bakayoko returns to the lineup. Eden Hazard starts on the bench, as does Andreas Christensen. Gary Cahill and Antonio Rudiger are reunited in central defence, hopefully putting an end to all the banter about Conte dropping Rudiger over his generic comments about the team’s struggles.
The two-striker formation is a belated recognition of Chelsea’s inabilities to penetrate a defence holding a tight line at the top of the box. Such defences repel Eden Hazard and Willian like a force-field. The Blues have not been able to make the runs in behind which would allow for one-two’s or through-ballsto send someone in on goal. Burnley exemplify such a style of defence. The two strikers give Chelsea solid targets for passes over the top – either from distance or while in final-third possession.
Behind the front men, Chelsea could arrange themselves in any number of formations. The most apparent is a 3-4-1-2. However, if Emerson plays more as a full-back, then Chelsea could be in a 4-2-4, with Pedro and Victor Moses on the wings. Moses’s form as a wing-back has been dipping in recent weeks. A return to his original position could reignite his confidence, and relieve him of the passing and defensive duties as wing-back.
The more offensive formation would be another nod towards Chelsea’s struggles in the 3-4-3, borne from most of the Premier League having long ago figured out how to beat it. The 4-2-4 would give Chelsea a multi-angled attack, which again would best counter Burnley’s tight and narrow defence.
Antonio Conte will not want to sacrifice the sturdiness of his three-man defence. Emerson and Cesar Azpilicueta may be the pivot points of a Conte “chameleon,” where their position relative to the balance of play determines Chelsea’s shape. The Blues could shift from 5-3-2 to 3-5-2 to 4-2-4 in the course of a counter and build-up. This will be more dynamic than anything Chelsea have done in some time. But if Conte expects prolonged possession against Burnley, the Blues can pull it off.
The formation shifts add a new element to this game. Antonio Conte may be resting players for Sunday’s FA Cup match, or he may be experimenting with new tactics for that competition. He may also have an eye to Chelsea’s fixture against Liverpool. Chelsea may have limited expectations for winning that game, but they will want to at least stem the damage / embarassment. Fresh tactics are one way to do that, and the timing and opponent of this match are one of the few remaining opportunities.
Next: Burnley vs. Chelsea: Predicting a sopoforic slog to three points
Antonio Conte may also be experimenting with ideas for next season, his third at Chelsea. Thursday nights are always an exciting time for new players, lineups and tactics and the Blues have plenty ahead of them.