This January window has certainly been one to remember for the pride of London. Chelsea has drawn the attention, and in many cases, the ire, of the international footballing community after spending around £300 million on at least eight new players.
Joao Felix, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, and Enzo Fernandez are the obvious high-profile signings, while Benoit Badiashile, David Datro Fofana, Malo Gusto, and Andrey Santos all made moves to the Bridge as well. Todd Boehly is clearly not messing around when it comes to this rebuild.
I’m still pretty pessimistic about the Blues’ chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League, but no one can accuse the new American ownership of lacking ambition during its first year in charge of the club. If the past few months are anything to judge by, there are hundreds of millions of reasons to be excited about the new era of Chelsea FC.
While we supporters have certainly been ecstatic about the team’s new recruits, perhaps the person most excited about their respective arrivals is Graham Potter. The English tactician has been coaching with one hand tied behind his back due to the numerous injuries and suspensions that have plagued his squad throughout the campaign.
Christian Pulisic, Raheem Sterling, N’Golo Kante, Reece James, and Ben Chilwell have all missed significant time, but these stars are scheduled to return over the next few weeks and will need to be at their best if they want to retain their places in the starting XI. Much has been made about Chelsea’s bloated wage book, although the current injury crisis almost necessitates an entire additional squad is at the ready when called upon.
I doubt Potter will mind the overabundance of talented players to select from, as tactical adaptability has always been one of his biggest calling cards. Whether he’s deploying different starting XIs depending on the opponent or making in-game systematic adjustments, the Blues’ manager will be sure to utilize every strategy and skill set at his disposal.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Potter tinkers with the formation and personnel in the contests immediately following the end of the transfer window to try and find a balance between the new arrivals and established players. Here are three ways Chelsea can line up with its new attacking signings.
3 formations Chelsea could use with new attacking additions
4-3-3 (Mudryk LW, Havertz ST, Felix RW)
This first formation is one we’ll likely see when Kante is fully healthy. The Frenchman and any combination of Fernandez, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount, or Conor Gallagher will provide more than enough support in the midfield for this silky attacking trio.
I imagine Potter would deploy the 4-3-3 during a match in which ball control in the opponents’ half is crucial, as Felix, Havertz, and Mudryk all boast impressive possession numbers. The Portuguese and Ukrainian internationals are particularly aggressive while dribbling in the attacking area, with both ranking in the top 15th percentile among players in the big five European leagues.
This skill has been sorely missed at Stamford Bridge over the past few seasons, exemplified by the fact that even brief cameos from Felix and Mudryk during their debuts were enough to get the Chelsea faithful out of their seats.
These youngsters will only improve in terms of skill and confidence with more training time and a better understanding of Potter’s system, so I’m really excited to see how the English tactician utilizes his starlets differently. And as the club continues to revamp in midfield, I guarantee we’ll see more of the 4-3-3.
4-2-3-1 (Mudryk LW, Felix CAM, Madueke RW, Havertz ST)
This is the system I want to see deployed most often in the immediate future for several reasons. First, the Blues have been playing in a 4-2-3-1 for most of the campaign and will be comfortable with the movements and positioning necessary to make it successful.
Second, it will allow most of the team’s young attacking signings to take the field together and develop strong chemistry. Third, and I think most importantly, I imagine this is the formation Potter will select once Christopher Nkunku arrives in London during the summer window. The Leipzig hitman is known for his positional versatility, so he’s a strong candidate to take the mantle as Chelsea’s no. 9 of the future.
In the meantime, the team’s attack can still become extremely potent in a 4-2-3-1 with Havertz leading the line. The German international won’t need to play creator and finisher any longer with so much skill and pace surrounding him.
He already ranks in the 94th percentile with 46.14 touches per match, but now these touches will hopefully be closer to the net in more favorable scoring positions. Chelsea’s inability to score consistently has been its biggest problem throughout the season so far, with the team averaging an abysmal 1.1 goals per game in the Premier League.
We must see tangible improvements in attack during the second half of the year considering how much money has been spent on the Blues’ new-look front line.
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.
Which attacking combination will Graham Potter deploy?