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Chelsea’s loss to PSG saw criticism come from all angles at the tactics deployed at 2-2, but few may have expected Malo Gusto to be the one to point it out.
Everybody is focused on Chelsea‘s next game against Newcastle United in the Premier League, but you can’t help but feel that there are a few underlying issues to be fixed.
One of those is the constant tinkering of formations and lineups. Liam Rosenior has often gone from a back three to a back four, and then swapped goalkeeper and centre-back partnerships constantly.
The one thing you tend to see with all these successful sides is they have a strongest XI and a recognisable way of playing, but Chelsea lacks that identity right now.
Malo Gusto felt that Chelsea should have been more defensive at 2-2 against PSG, and on that occasion, it’s up for debate as to whether it was the right or wrong call to be brave.
But one thing that is clear is that Rosenior is sticking to his guns.
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Thoughts?
Photo by Sathire Kelpa/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images Liam Rosenior stands by his style of management
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s clash with Newcastle United, Rosenior suggested that he went more attacking against PSG due to previous experience (as per Kieran Gill).
“I could play 5-4-1, sit back, kick them the ball, not give them a counter-attack, they win 4-0. I’ve seen that in Ligue 1, in the Champions League. I live and die off hindsight. What I will say is on Tuesday, we will be pressing them and playing to score as many goals as possible.”
To be fair to Rosenior, had it gone a different way and Chelsea ended up finding the winning goal, then nobody is talking about this. But, you can also see the other side of the story in hindsight, where perhaps the Blues should have been a bit more cautious with a home second leg.
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Photo by Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images Chelsea’s best formation under Liam Rosenior
Under Liam Rosenior, Chelsea’s best formation is undoubtedly the 4-2-3-1 that morphs into a fluid 3-2-5 in possession. This setup maximises the squad’s engine room while providing the defensive stability Enzo Maresca’s high line often lacked.
By deploying Reece James in a hybrid midfield-pivot role alongside Moises Caicedo, Rosenior allows the captain to dictate play from central zones, freeing Cole Palmer to operate as a roaming number ten.
This tactical shift has revitalised the attack, placing the prolific Joao Pedro in central positions rather than forcing him wide, resulting in the most balanced and direct football Chelsea has seen in years.
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