How I expect Maresca to line us up…….

Using our current squad, new arrivals will change personnel

Good morning ladies and gents,

Today I am going to take a look at the ways I think Enzo Maresca will line up his Chelsea team.

Maresca uses a 4-3-3 formation with a deep lying playmaker and 2 advanced 8s, one of the 8s being a more defensive minded box to box player with the other a higher, advanced and more attack minded player.

One of his full backs will invert into a pivot with the deep lying playmaker whilst the other remains to make up a back 3 consisting of 2 CBs and a full back.

In the offensive phase that leaves a 3-2-5 shape, attacking with 2 wingers, 2 8s and the centre forward. He sets his team up like this to be able to counter press and not to be vulnerable on the counter attack, he also uses this shape to help control the game better in all phases and transitions.

I have had a play around with a rough lineup that he could use (current squad only for now);

I like a lot of the personnel in this system but there are a few upgrades that could be made, firstly we are lucky we have 2 right backs who will excel in this system in Reece James and Malo Gusto. I picked James in this one, with Marc Cucurella in there as well we could really cause teams issues by changing which full back inverts throughout games as they all have the ability to do so.

I think Enzo Fernandez will thrive under Enzo Maresca as his deep lying playmaker, Harry Winks played that role for Leicester this season and was pretty outstanding, getting over 100 touches in most games and sometimes up to 140 per game, Enzo will thrive having a role and ability to use the ball like that.

Moises Caicedo will adapt really well to playing the Ndidi role from this years Leicester, a naturally defensive minded midfielder given license to push in and approve his attacking abilities whilst still being a massively important figure in breaking up play. Using Christopher Nkunku as an attacking 8 could be a masterstroke, it’s a role he featured in a lot in his academy and early senior career days and even played a similar role occasionally at Leipzig.

The wingers get all sorts of license to attack space in behind or find gaps between centre halves and full backs to penetrate and be clinical.

I think we could do with a left back with the ability to invert, a left winger, a striker and a goalkeeper to really upgrade this XI.

My top choices would be Emi Martinez, Theo Hernandez (not realistic), Eberechi Eze and Benjamin Sesko.

A wildcard pick for left back would be Joao Cancelo if his move to Barca isn’t made permanent, Marseca already has an excellent working relationship with him.

Please give me your thoughts on lineups, signings etc to suit Marseca’s system.

Thanks for reading!

Luke Rushbrook