Massimiliano Allegri could be switching places with Maurizio Sarri and heading to west London. If Allegri becomes the third consecutive Italian manager of the Blues, here’s how they would likely line up.
Very rarely in European football do teams essentially swap managers. However, with the odds of Maurizio Sarri managing Juventus next season growing by the hour, Massimiliano Allegri is shaping up to be a near shoo-in for the vacant Blues job.
If Chelsea is trying to take a more conservative approach to hiring its next manager, Allegri is the best possible candidate. In Allegri, Chelsea would be hiring a tactical genius. Unlike Sarri, Allegri’s most enticing quality is the ability to change tactics based on the opponent and the personnel at his disposal.
Predicting an Allegri formation to start a year is nearly impossible. The way he manages is very player-friendly: he adapts to those around him and stays within their comfort zones. He’s been known to use a plethora of formations, including (but not limited to) 4-4-2, 3-5-2, 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1.
However, under Chelsea, it’s easiest to see him lining his men up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, often dropping back into a 4-4-2 when out of possession.
This starting line-up is based on the assumptions that every player in the squad is fully fit, and that players like Kurt Zouma and Marcos Alonso will likely be sold before the 2019/20 season opens.
1. Goalkeeper and Defense: Simple and straight-forward
Kepa Arrizabalaga is the obvious first-choice keeper. With Willy Caballero serving as a back-up and Jamie Cumming or Jamal Blackman as a reserve, it’s difficult to see anyone even challenging the Spaniard for his starting role. Moving on.
Emerson would get the nod at left-back in a 4-2-3-1. Allegri loves to use his fullbacks when penetrating the opposition. The fullbacks are either used to stretch out defenses or get crosses in when they join attacks. On the opposite site, Cesar Azpilicueta will start due to his similar qualities.
However, unlike the current Chelsea set-up, Allegri’s fullbacks will hardly ever make runs into the box like Emerson did in the Europa League Final. His presence on the wing will be used to draw in defenders, creating space for a midfielder to run into the 18-yard box, where the opponent’s defense is already punctured. When he isn’t doing that, he’s putting crosses into a dangerous position.
Central defense is where things get a little more simple. Allegri doesn’t really do anything fancy with his center backs. They aren’t used much, if at all, in attack.
This works best for Antonio Rudiger, who will start on the right of the center back pairing. Rudiger will be able to assume the role he joined Chelsea to play: an out-and-out defender. Meanwhile, Andreas Christensen will start alongside Rudiger, assuming the role Giorgio Chiellini played for Allegri at Juventus.
Whereas Maurizio Sarri’s 4-3-3 had everything go through Jorginho, Allegri’s 4-2-3-1 has multiple ways of breaking down a press. One of these press-breaking tactics involves a center back, in this case Christensen, making a run with the ball into defensive midfield. This allows one of the two defensive midfielders to move into an opening and break the press.
While David Luiz is known for his on-ball skills, slick runs and extravagant passing, his runs are more erratic and careless than Christensen’s.