A new season, and so far at least, the same Chelsea. It’s been a disappointing start to the Blues 2023/24 campaign, as a 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest places them in a familiar 12th place in the Premier League table after four league matches. Despite a very active transfer window where the West Londoners were once again the talk of the market for their big money spending and massive outgoings, the results on the pitch continue to leave more to be desired.
The arrival of Mauricio Pochettino and the relatively successful preseason has not translated into the season. While early signs were positive, it’s clear that the Argentine will have his work cut out for him in order to transform this young Chelsea side into contenders for the future. If Pochettino is the man to achieve that success with the Blues, there are key adjustments he will need to make to steady the ship before the return from the international break.
3 key adjustments for Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea team
1. Formation Change
Mauricio Pochettino’s tactical preference for a 4 at the back system, especially the 4-2-3-1 formation, has been a recurring theme throughout his coaching career. Hence, when Chelsea played most of their preseason matches under Pochettino in a 4-2-3-1 it came to no surprise. The impact of the Argentinian’s tactical tweaks became evident in a much more fluidly attacking Blues side that totaled 13 goals in five preseason matches.
Nevertheless, in all of his first five official matches for CFC so far, Pochettino has opted for a surprising shift to a 3-center-back system. While the gaffer and players like Thiago Silva have asserted that the formation actually transitions predominantly to a four at the back, the reality remains that the presence of three centre backs alongside two predominantly defensive-minded fullbacks has impacted the Blues output going forward.
For the past three seasons, Chelsea’s problem has been scoring goals, not its defense. Those games where you go one or even two nil down to a mid-table Premier League side will happen. However, the league’s elite such as the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal can recover from those deficits because they have the attacking players able to make the difference up top. Pochettino’s stubbornness to continue to play three centre backs for all of the Blues Premier League matches so far, has left the likes of Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson unaided in attacking possessions.
Although injuries have had a part to play with the gaffer’s approach, the return from the international break and the new addition of Cole Palmer along with youngsters Noni Madueke and Mhykhailo Mudryk need to be given the chance to fix this struggling attack. Ideally a return to Pochettino’s tried and tested 4-2-3-1 or even a 4-3-3 with more emphasis on attack orientated play will bring the Blues the much-needed directness and fluidity going forward.