Chelsea: Three lessons learnt from draw to Aston Villa to end 2020

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Chelsea’s English head coach Frank Lampard (L) reacts with Chelsea’s German striker Timo Werner at the final whistle during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge in London on October 3, 2020. (Photo by Mike Hewitt / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by MIKE HEWITT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

3. A new system could breathe life into the team and bring out the best in the players

Throughout his time at Chelsea, Lampard used 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 with the occasional 3-4-3. This system worked well for the Blues in the past, but it seems like Lampard could try a new system. Timo Werner is extremely short on confidence. Moreover, he is struggling to fit into the league and Lampard hasn’t really been to find his best position.

While it is clear that Werner should not be the sole center forward (something which was evident last night), Werner on the wings isn’t working either at the moment. At RB Leipzig, Timo Werner was usually playing in the space behind the primary striker or he was on the wings. However, positional analysis shows that Werner has tendency to be in the central areas in a position slightly to the left of the striker. This means a shift to a two striker system could bring out the best in the current players at Chelsea.

A formation like 4-3-1-2 could work wonders and help Timo Werner and Kai Havertz flourish. Werner could play as the second striker (his most successful position) behind Tammy and Havertz or Hakim Ziyech or even Cristian Pulisic could be the no.10 between the two center forwards. Against Villa, Lampard brought Werner on for Giroud with the hope of beating them with pace in the end. However, things didn’t go to plan as Werner couldn’t breach their backline. A two striker formation may allow Werner to be free and give him freedom to move around and find space.

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