Chelsea’s travels to Russia offer an opportunity to measure the depth of the squad and rest some key figures. What tactics might be in play?
The Blues are making the long trek to Russia to play Champions League newcomers Krasnodar. The Russian side settled for honors even in their first ever Champions League match, matching the result of Chelsea versus Sevilla. It is all square throughout the group with this match day being vital for every side if they want to start to pull ahead.
Krasnodar is an extremely new club, only going professional in 2008. Their manager, Murad Musayev, has only technically just become their manager this past summer despite being their manager since 2018. Some UEFA license shenanigan that would make Zinedine Zidane proud allowed him to go about his job while someone else was technically manager. Regardless, the 36 year old has taken the Russian side from strength to strength and now to their first Champions League campaign.
Krasnodar is an extremely organized and well drilled team. They live and die by circuits and almost every player is often positioned as if a coach had drawn the perfect set up on a piece of paper. That means they can rapidly put together an attack and rapidly put together a solid defensive block.
Against Rennes, they tended to leave only the closest player to press the ball carrier while the rest fell back. When they did get the ball, they were unafraid to pop it from long if their routine wasn’t on. Indeed, one of their long shots resulted in their goal. Krasnodar is a team where everyone knows their role and that allows them to move from one thing to the next quickly, while still having just enough individual flair to keep it interesting.
All that being said, Frank Lampard has a deep squad that he can finally measure the depth of against Krasnodar. It is an important match to get a result in, but it is equally important to rest many of the starters who have played every match while bringing in some players who haven’t seen much of the pitch as of late.
This is the kind of match Callum Hudson-Odoi should be playing in, not against Sevilla or Manchester United just because he’s a winger. Fikayo Tomori should see minutes as well as Hakim Ziyech as he hunts match fitness. This may even be a match for Kepa Arrizabalaga to settle out, though Krasnodar’s love of long shots may halt that notion.
Indeed, Lampard should make sweeping changes from the United match. Many players such as Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, and N’Golo Kante have been run into the ground lately by club and country. If a match like this isn’t used to rest them, it’s hard to tell what match will be.
Krasnodar is probably a better team than they are getting credit for, but they are still the easy odd team out in the group. The Blues should be able to rotate and see what their alternatives have to offer while giving their stars a much deserved day off. It is a win win for everyone provided the result is acquired. The depth can show what they can offer and maybe earn a start against Burnley while the stars can rest up and be ready for the next set of matches on the horizon.