Chelsea manager Frank Lampard played an unusual 4-2-3-1 against Brighton in the Blues’ preseason friendly, is this preparing for Kai Havertz?
Chelsea took the pitch in a different fashion for its first preseason match last weekend. At Brighton’s American Express Community Stadium, Frank Lampard lined his Blues up in a formation seldom used recently by the young manager. When the ball kicked off to signify the matches commencement, the Chelsea players took shape and created a 4-2-3-1 with some interesting aspects.
Before we begin to understand the formation, we must analyze why Lampard used it. He indicated at the end of last season that his preference was playing with dual No. 8s in midfield; however, he went back on that philosophy at Brighton. The gaffer himself hasn’t spoken publicly on the variations between the two tactical styles, but it’s safe to assume he made the switch more recently due to the impending announcement of Kai Havertz.
Havertz’s move to London has been one of the worst kept secrets in football over the last few months. The German wunderkind lit up the Bundesliga from multiple places on the pitch, quickly rising to fame. In order to utilize the versatility of the 21-year-old, early signs point towards Lampard straying away from the system in which he ended last season using. The Blues now look like they’ll play with a two-man defensive midfield and allow Havertz to roam free in attack.
Not only will Havertz be able to roam free in an advanced midfield role, but one has to imagine he’ll almost play as a second striker, something he often did at Leverkusen. If Lampard wants to get even more creative with his attack against deep lying defensive sides, Havertz could swap positions with Hakim Ziyech since he’s allowed positional freedom so high up the pitch. This allows for the Moroccan to play a position he’s more familiar with—as opposed to a No. 8—and it brings a whole different beast (Havertz) to the right wing. None of this is possible without the two other individuals in the midfield.
The two others—against Brighton it was N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic—will play in a double pivot behind Havertz. For those unfamiliar with the term double pivot, it’s when two midfielders occupy the space in front of the defense and are tasked with covering it either together or in shifts. The difference between a double pivot and a regular pivot is the flexibility the two-man tactic allows for.
The double pivot gives one of the players the flexibility to fill in the space between the now free roaming midfielder and the pivot partner sitting deep. For this reason, the position requires not only a great understanding between the two defensive midfielders, but athleticism and technical ability. Luckily, the Blues have both in Kante—who will not leave for Inter Milan—and Kovacic. The duo has accrued a vast wealth of knowledge and experience while playing in diverse positions across the middle of the park over the last few seasons, one of the few good things Maurizio Sarri did during his time in west London.
Playing in this formation also gives Chelsea’s 2019/20 Player of the Season a chance to utilize his best skillset: dribbling. Kovacic’s extraordinary expertise on the ball allows him to act as the glue between the midfield and forwards. All while possessing the awareness and ability to get back when the Blues give up possession. Kovacic and Kante acting as a blanket in front of the mistake-prone back line while Havertz roams amongst the forwards creates a dream scenario for many. It is also part of the reason Lampard was so interested in bringing in the German, as a versatile, disciplined and experience trio is needed to pull all of this off.
While Timo Werner may have been a blockbuster move, no signing will be more valuable to the future of Chelsea Football Club than Havertz. This is already apparent as Lampard completely changed his philosophy to mold a team around the young star. Through Mason Mount, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ross Barkley and the rest of the midfielders, Chelsea has an embarrassment of riches in those positions. Alas, it’s the starting trio that’ll demand the attention of spectators across the globe.