3 Ways Chelsea will line up with new attacking signings Mudryk, Madueke and Felix
By Mike Malley
3-4-3 (Mudryk LW, Felix CF, Madueke RW)
I have a feeling that playing three-in-the-back will soon be a thing of the past for the club from the capital. There was no doubting the system’s effectiveness under Thomas Tuchel during the Blues’ run to the 2020/21 Champions League title, but the current squad has changed dramatically from its recent triumphant iteration.
Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen thrived on either side of Thiago Silva, but their replacements, namely Badiashile, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Wesley Fofana, aren’t as comfortable defending large pockets of space when the wing-backs push forward. There might still be a few occasions in which we see a back three if Chelsea is chasing a late equalizer, but I would be surprised if Potter selects this formation to start a contest.
If he does, though, Mudryk, Felix, and Madueke should make up the attacking triumvirate. The 3-4-3’s lack of bodies in the heart of midfield necessitates that the center forward drops deep to link play between the opposition’s midfield and defense, as we’ve seen from Havertz and even Romelu Lukaku at times.
Felix’s close control and dribbling ability make him the perfect player to occupy those small pockets of space and send through balls to Mudryk and Madueke on either wing. Both of these starlets are absolutely rapid, so they shouldn’t have a problem getting behind their markers.
And while finishing is not currently a strong suit for Mudryk or Madueke, neither is afraid to put the ball on the net and force the keeper to make a save. Their direct playing styles would flourish in a run-and-gun 3-4-3 system.
Next. List of all players Chelsea signed in January as £300 million+ spent on arrivals. dark
Which attacking combination will Graham Potter deploy?