How Can Chelsea Improve Defensively in Their Push to Glory in 2015?
Chelsea have allowed 19 Premier League goals past Thibaut Courtois this season. Ironically, at the same stage last year, the Blues had allowed 19 past Petr Cech.
Praised for their defensive stability in 2013/14, Chelsea were not as staunch in their first domestic lap as some might think. Jose Mourinho wanted to play expansive football, but after beating Sunderland 4-3, losing to Stoke City 3-2 and falling to the Black Cats 2-1 within a fortnight, the Portuguese installed a more defensive game plan—seeing his team was leaking goals.
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Mourinho's adjustment worked: After their loss at the Britannia on 7 December 2013, Chelsea conceded just five goals in their next 14 EPL fixtures—going unbeaten during the run.
The relationship to 2014/15 is that Mourinho has found what he was searching for in early 2013/14—those being goals. Were Chelsea able to overcome their defensive frailties with offensive productivity, Chelsea's boss making his team "park buses" last season would, likely, have never happened.
Roman Abramovich, since his arrival in 2003, has requested "the beautiful game" at Stamford Bridge; Mourinho knowing this, he tried to attempt the free-flowing, continental style—which saw him win La Liga with 100 points and 121 goals in 2011/12—but Chelsea were not ready to switch gears.
Revamping his strike force with Diego Costa, Didier Drogba and Loic Remy—while simultaneously upgrading his midfield with Cesc Fabregas—Mourinho acquired the firepower last summer to make an offensively proficient side.
Costa, Fabregas, Eden Hazard and others have given Mourinho the ability to play the football Abramovich wants, but the team's balance—as seen vs. Tottenham Hotspur on New Year's Day—has certainly been affected.
In Europe one might expect Mourinho to use last season's approach regardless of the opponent, but Premier League competition offers different problems.
Allowed possession in most domestic games, Chelsea have advanced their full-backs. Cesar Azpilicueta and Branislav Ivanovic play wide, flanking their wingers and making the pitch as large as possible. The more attack-minded Ivanovic marauds forward and can often be found loitering around the opposition's 18-yard box—the Serbian's positioning has been either boom or bust.
When the Blues lose possession, Ivanovic—when advanced—puts massive pressure on his right-attacking midfielders and Gary Cahill to mark half the pitch against invariable pace. Not the quickest of customers, it seems odd Mourinho allows the 30-year-old licence to play so far advanced. Willian's work rate masks mistakes, as does the anticipation of Cahill and John Terry, but the right side of Chelsea's defence is at times vacuous.
In 2013/14 Mourinho favoured playing Ramires in the double pivot, with either Frank Lampard or Nemanja Matic. The Brazilian is Stamford Bridge's best box-to-box midfielder and has the engine to chase down or break up any oppositional counter-attacks. Needing more goals in his team, however, Mourinho has used Fabregas in the pivot this term.
If Chelsea want Fabregas' playmaking and Ramires' engine, Oscar in the "No. 10" looks the odd-man out. Highly rated by Mourinho, the 23-year-old central-attacking midfielder is unlikely to be dropped when healthy, so there seems little chance of the Blues returning to last year's exact blueprint.
Managers cannot have one XI for every situation; one needs multiple options for multiple scenarios. While Mourinho is unlikely to play Willian on the right and Ramires in the double pivot together, it should be an option.
Short of playing the Brazilians, Ivanovic's movements must be curbed. His willingness to help offensively is needed in bursts, but playing upwards of an hour with a back four comprised of only three is patently insane.
Buying Filipe Luis for £16 million this summer, the Brazilian has only started four Premier League games. One might think Mourinho would consider using the 29-year-old defender more. Likewise French centre-back Kurt Zouma, who has performed fantastically well in limited minutes this season.
Chelsea have the ability to play various systems, but appear intent on building a new foundation based on open football. No neutral would reject the notion of a 5-3 game—as goals are the lifeblood of football—but ask supporters if they would rather lose 5-3 or win 1-0, and the objective becomes clear: Take three points whichever way possible.
Though favourites in every domestic competition, Mourinho's side are far from the finished article. It may be sagacious for the Portuguese to slow Chelsea's offensive revolution and lean more towards the defensive structure witnessed last season and during his first west London spell.
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase.com where not noted.
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