Could it be that Carlo Ancelloti directs Chelsea to the Premier League title, in only his first season? It certainly appears that it could well be the case, with Chelsea currently atop of the table, and reaping the benefits of an on-song Didier Drogba, a man who when in form, is generally regarded as the world’s best hitman. Chelsea started in similar vain last season under the guidance of Phil Scolari, yet soon found themselves out of the title race due to defensive issues and tactical dysfunction.
So how has the Italian changed things from his Milan days?
Ancellotti’s Milan team employed a 4-3-1-2 formation, in which Andrea Pirlo occupied a creative berth at the base of midfield, with Gattuso enforcing proceedings just ahead, and Seedorf providing further industry alongside Gattuso. Kaka provided the link between midfield and an attack of Andriy Shevchenko and Pippo Inzaghi. This is the side which produced some of the most aesthetically satisfying football in Europe, and which claimed two Champions League trophies during Ancellotti’s stay, and the Italian has transferred the formation used at Milan to his Chelsea side, yet using a significantly varied style of player.
If we look at the midfield options Chelsea have and can employ, we see Mikel, a strong, defensive-minded albeit competent distributor at the base of midfield, as opposed to a typical regista in the form of Pirlo, whose prime aim is to create and not to anchor the midfield in the manner of Mikel. We then look at Malouda and Essien, who typically, would supplement Mikel. Malouda is primarily a wide, attacking player, and certainly more forward-thinking than Seedorf, while Essien is a dynamic, ferocious beast in central midfield, whereas Gattuso simply enforces proceedings and looks to liberate the more creative players within the side. Furthermore, Lampard is not the flamboyant, skilful crux of the midfield that is Kaka, yet tends to rely more on a deadly passing ability, and swift, ingenious touches to penetrate a defence.
We see then, how the two midfields differ in line-up:
Above, the Milan midfield is shown, in which all four players are extremely narrow, due to the need to protect Pirlo and not allow exposure to central defence.
Malouda, on the left of midfield performs the traditionally Brazilian ‘shuttler’ role, in which he plays just infield of the left wing, and provides industry up and down the pitch, and is more liberated than his Milan counterpart to go forward, due to Mikel’s defensive ability. Essien on the right of Mikel offers a similar, yet more defensive-minded approach, although again, he is far more liberated than either of the Milan central midfielders in his ability to roam wide or forward.
Essentially, Ancellotti’s approach to Chelsea’s midfield is tactically more ‘street-wise’ than his Milan setup. In using Mikel as an anchoring defensive midfield player, he no longer has to restrict his other two central midfielders to narrow roles, which exposes the fullbacks, heavily reduces attacking width and can lead to the midfield being stretched by opposition width, which then exposes the creative base player, who in the form of Pirlo, would have struggled to halt opposition attacks. It ensures also that in stopping the trequartista, or attacking midfielder, the opposition does not completely wipe-out Chelsea’s creativity behind the front two, in the final third. Malouda, or Essien can advance forward to support Lampard, and pose more than one problem in the opposition final third, without exposing a defensively-weak holding player.
Furthermore, Ancellotti has made great use of Anelka and Drogba as a partnership, in order to help link midfield play. Both players are seen dropping deep alternatively to link with Lampard, and both players are excellent at pulling wide and creating space for Lampard to stream into. Positioning Lampard just behind Drogba also caters for the former’s long-range shooting ability, and for an accurate long-ball to Drogba’s chest to quickly result in a Lampard shot on goal.
How have things changed since Scolari?
Scolari’s Chelsea was a team which simply ran out of ideas. Here was a man without the tactical variety to manage Chelsea; once a team prevented them from working and triangulating the ball swiftly within the final third, essentially, a team had stopped Chelsea. Manchester United’s 3-0 defeat of the Blues at the turn of the year provides a strong insight:
United defend in two banks of four, with both Giggs and Fletcher sitting deep in central midfield. As highlighted Rooney drops deep to press in front of them, and prompt a hurried pass. Chelsea move the ball between their central 3 midfielders, yet are unable to progress past the half-way line, as no options exist within the final third. United’s midfield remains compact and refuses to stretch as the fullbacks push forward.
Scolari seemed unable to recognise that his side needed a greater presence within the final third, and ostensibly, was content with his side passing the ball within a triangle on the half-way line for 80 minutes, before the long punts forward commenced.
Let’s now look at Chelsea’s attacking play under Ancellotti:
Chelsea now possess two centre forwards capable of dropping into the hole and linking play. Lampard operates just in front of the opposition central midfield, causing an opponent to mark him, which frees space for either of the strikers to drop into and receive the pass, or allows Essien or Malouda to drive on into space. Either that, or the midfielders allow Lampard to roam and turn with the ball, to slide through either of the strikers into space in front of the opposition defence. Driving runs from Malouda and Essien can also pull opposition wide players infield, liberating space for Boswinga and Cola out-wide.
All-in-all, Ancellotti looks to be a tactically sound, solid manager, and if Chelsea continue in this manner, they certainly look to be challenging at the very top of the league, and in Europe. Under Ancellotti, Chelsea seem to have finally stroke a balance between a fluid, interchangeable system which prompts aesthetically pleasing football, and is tactically strong and allows for a more varied approach to attacking play than either Ancellotti’s Milan side, or Scolari’s Chelsea.
