Chelsea could return to 3-4-3 at Crystal Palace this weekend

Chelsea fans have been treated to the tactical side of Thomas Tuchel’s management recently after being told about the famous shape shifter for months. The Blues primarily used a 3-4-3 throughout the German’s first year in charge, the notable exceptions being the first half at Leeds United in his first trip to Elland Road and Juventus at home in the Champions League. Injuries to Ben Chilwell and Reece James during the winter period forced Tuchel’s hand though and fans began to see some distinct differences in shape.

The 4-2-2-2 and 4-1-4-1 have recently become favorites of the manager with the aforementioned fullbacks/wingbacks still sidelined with injuries. This has allowed Tuchel to give Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta some much-needed rest after the club decided not to bring in reinforcements during the winter transfer window. They will be getting some long-term relief soon as James ramps up his recovery prior to a possible return. The Englishman’s return to the pitch could see Tuchel revert back to a 3-4-3 at Crystal Palace this weekend.

Chelsea could return to the 3-4-3 long-term with Reece James’ reintroduction

James’ return will allow for a lot more flexibility within the Blues’ ranks at the back. His split minutes will give his 32-year-old teammate, Azpilicueta, some time to rest after playing 90+ minutes in each of the last seven matches. Furthermore, James’ return makes Chelsea a more versatile team once again. There are now numerous players who can play each position that has lacked significant depth lately with Azpilicueta and Malang Sarr able to play both left back/wingback too when called upon. This opens up the door for the return of the 3-4-3.

Tuchel has utilized four at the back a majority of the time since James got injured. The youngster’s injury left Chelsea exposed at the wingback spots and the only ways to cope were to change formations or seemingly force two 30+ year-old players to go the distance in every match. The latter was not feasible, which is why Tuchel opted to go with the first option. Despite the change in shape to a back four, as touched on earlier, the Blues still maintained a lot of their defensive stability. As such, the extra player was able to slot into attack and that saw the front lines look a lot more fluid in the 4-1-4-1.

It’s worth noting that James won’t only help at the back either. The 22-year-old will give Chelsea another goalscoring threat, regardless of the team’s formation or where he lines up. James has only played in 23 games this season (1,615 minutes in total) across all competitions, but he’s played a significant role in helping the Blues score 11 times with his five goals and six assists. He helps boost the attack on a consistent basis, whereas Alonso and Azpilicueta are just occasional contributors in this sense. Tuchel now has even more tactical freedom than beforehand.

The Blues’ match against Crystal Palace at the weekend will force Tuchel’s hand in a way. If James is indeed reintroduced to the starting XI, the Premier League clash will act as a tune-up for the team before it hosts Lille early next week. No matter which formation Tuchel lines Chelsea up in or in what capacity James is involved at Selhurst Park, the thought of his return is enough to brighten a Blues supporter’s day. James is one of the most important players in the team and his influence in both phases of the game has been sorely missed in recent weeks.

Do you think the Blues line up in a 3-4-3 at Crystal Palace? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter!