Thomas Tuchel’s 4-1-4-1 breathes new life into Chelsea attack

Fans can count on one hand the number of times Chelsea’s three forwards have all played well in a game against an elite-level opponent. Thomas Tuchel has struggled to get his forwards firing over the last year, which is undoubtedly the biggest criticism of the Champions League-winning manager. Some say it’s the price to pay for defensive stability and there is definitely some truth to that. However, teams in the upper echelons of European football need to be very good at both ends of the pitch.

The Blues are a good attacking team, make no mistake about it. Clubs don’t put seven goals past opponents in the Premier League if this isn’t the case, nor do they beat a Massimiliano Allegri-led Juventus side by four goals. Chelsea’s offensive struggles are often over-exaggerated. It also needs to be said that some of these issues are a direct result of key absences from players such as Ben Chilwell and Reece James. All of that being said, it seems as if Tuchel may have finally found a way to consistently get the most out of his starting XI at the front and the back.

Thomas Tuchel’s 4-1-4-1 may very well be the answer to Chelsea’s problems

The idea of returning to a four-at-the-back formation has scared Chelsea supporters from the moment Tuchel took over and solidified the defense in a back three. The Blues won a Champions League on the back of a back three and you don’t fix what isn’t broken. However, something needed tweaking given the lack of wingbacks within Chelsea’s ranks and Tuchel saw it fit to switch to a back four. The 4-2-2-2 has had moderate success, but it ultimately failed to get the job done.

Enter the 4-1-4-1.

Tuchel leaned on this “new” (essentially just a 4-3-3 with extra spacing in the midfield) formation against Tottenham last weekend in the Premier League. One can attribute its success partly due to the fact it was fresh and caught Tottenham by surprise. That doesn’t do the tactical masterstroke from Tuchel justice though, nor does it credit the players for their impressive showing.

Before diving into the reasons for the attack’s success, it needs to be said that the defense was just as good. There have been questions about the solidity of a back four with this side, so naturally this has been a huge talking point. Tuchel opted to play with four centerbacks along his back line, which contributed to the success. Malang Sarr and Cesar Azpilicueta lined up as fullbacks, the flexibility came from their experience as centerbacks under the German’s guidance.

This allowed for a malleable defensive unit at any given time. Sarr made Chilwell-esque runs into the middle of the park when necessary, giving Tottenham players a reason to come out of their compact shape. When the Frenchman slid into the midfield, the entire unit shifted over to cover for his absence. The same goes for the situations in which Azpilicueta made darting pushes up the right flank. For those keeping track, Chelsea’s defense turned into a back three when the fullbacks pushed forward. Tuchel also instructed Jorginho to sit deep in front of the defense as a safety blanket. This calculated positioning also forced Spurs to make a decision: sit back and allow the Blues’ defenders time on the ball or come out to press them, opening space up in behind.

This is a concept Travis Tyler discussed on this week’s episode of The Pride of London Podcast.

Enough about the defense, now for the reason you all clicked on this article. The reason this formation was a smashing hit amongst the forwards isn’t exactly rocket science. When a manager puts his players in positions to succeed and adds another body to the attack, things are going to click. This is the first time Tuchel has played with true wingers since moving to a four-man defense. Callum Hudson-Odoi and Hakim Ziyech can play in inverted roles, but they’re best when they’re free to move around in the final third. This means allowing them to take on opponents one-on-one and move into space as they see fit, regardless of whether its at the edge of the opponent’s box or along the touchline.

Ziyech especially flourished in his role on the right because he was able to move freely between the two positions he’s most comfortable in. He and Mason Mount developed a great understanding as the game went on when they rotated between the role of right winger and one of the two No. 8s. This kept Tottenham’s defense guessing as to what was being thrown at them during each onslaught. There is perhaps no better example of this than when Azpilicueta and Mount acted as decoys to pull defenders away from the Moroccan at the start of the second half. Ziyech utilized the space given to him to curl in one of Chelsea’s goals of the season.

The wingers weren’t the only ones who flourished on the night either. Romelu Lukaku found himself significantly more involved in the final third. He was receiving service from left, right and center. The Belgian benefitted from the creative players around him, as well as Mateo Kovacic’s close proximity to him throughout the contest. The struggling striker was not able to get onto the scoresheet in the important London Derby, although he did come close to finding the back of the net on numerous occasions. This is a real positive going forward for the 28-year-old as he looked more comfortable throughout the match—infinitely more than when in the 4-2-2-2.

There is no telling whether or not there are plans in place to keep testing this formation. Trying to guess Tuchel’s set-up before matches has become a crapshoot at this point, but that’s what Chelsea supporters have been asking for recently. The Blues’ faithful were promised a tactical genius who adapts his tactics according to the opponents and personnel available to him. It took Tuchel until he approached his one-year anniversary to show the world his hand. It’s better late than never, but who knows, maybe the sorcerer could still have a few tricks up his sleeve.

Do you think the 4-1-4-1 is here to stay? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!