MY PREDICTIONS FOR CHELSEA'S 2018/19 LINEUP!
Continuing on from my previous post on the 2018/19 Chelsea Updates, I have decided to make predictions and plan out the 2018/19 Lineup regarding my ideas and opinions.
Formation: 4-3-4:
I believe that Maurizio Sarri will use the 4-3-3 formation, just like he did in Napoli. Maurizio Sarri is use to playing a exciting and rapid game with accurate passes and ball control. In Napoli, Sarri would make use of Choulah, Hamsik and Insigne to get behind the opposition's defense line and score. The way Sarri uses his strategies is very similar to Pep Guardiola's style of football.
Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois:
Courtois showed a performance of high quality during the 2018 Russia World Cup. He received the Golden Glove of the tournament and showed continuous excellent saves during the match against Brazil. Moreover, the Belgian goalkeeper is fantastic at distributing the ball from left to right. Sarri loves to start the build-up from the goalkeeper and increase the speed of the movement around the half-line.
Right Back: Cesar Azpilicueta:
Last season with Conte, Azpilicueta was the starting defender and was referred to as the best defender in the EPL. Cesar Azpilicueta was able to pass the ball towards to Fabregas to start the attack or give great crosses to Alvaro Morata. The style of Azpilicueta is very similar to Napoli's defender Hysaj. Hysaj was able to drive forwards and create great opportunities for the wingers.
Center Back #1: Andreas Christensen:
During the 2017/18 season, Chrsitensen was able to manage 90% for pass accuracy and showed offensive talents during matches. Additionally, Sarri exceptionally likes to play young defenders and Christensen is a perfect choice.
Center Back #2: Kalidou Koulibaly:
Koulibaly was a crucial part of the attack system with Napoli with Jorginho in center defence. A common way of Napoli's strategy would start from a pass from the goalkeeper to Koulibaly. Koulibaly would look through the field and usually pass it to Jorginho. If Jorginho had pressure behind him he would simply pass it back to Koulibaly. This certain routine would continue until space was made for the wingers to receive the ball. The repetitive movement allowed the opponents to move from right to left which created lots of space. Koulibaly is like a pivot at the defense line and knows the exact time to start attacking.
Left Back: Marcos Alonso:
Marcos Alonso is one of the best attacking defenders in the Premier League and has been involved with most of the goals. As mentioned before, in Sarri's formation the left back is a key part of the team as the attacks evolve around the left side.
Defensive Midfield: Jorginho:
Jorginho is like the engine of the team as he controls the pace of the movement and the direction of the attacking play. Jorginho's talented way of passing with accuracy and controlling the ball allows Chelsea to strive through the pitch. Jorginho is highly likely to change the style of Chelsea. Antonio Conte's style was all about the counter-attack, yet with Jorginho on the field it is possible that Chelsea will turn into a possession based movement.
Midfield #1: N'Golo Kante:
During the recent World Cup, no player was able to make more interceptions than Kante. I strongly believe that Kante will be best in supporting Jorginho in the attacking process and in winning the ball possession back. In addition, a big part of Sarri's style is putting pressure from the front. N'Golo Kante is more than capable of chasing the ball on the upper half and passing it back to Chelsea's side.
Midfield #2: Aleksandr Golovin (Potential Transfer):
Golovin was another of the individuals that showed and outstanding performance in the World Cup. For Golovin, his time of glory was against Saudi Arabia. During the match he was able to support the team with 2 assists and 1 astonishing goal in the 2nd half. It is true that Jorginho is not a world-class defender. This means Golovin's ability to tackle and Kante's ability to grab possession makes the perfect midfield line for Chelsea.
Right Winger: Willian:
Willian has always made a significant impact on Chelsea. The most memorable time of Willian for me personally was Chelsea's match against Stoke City in the 2017/18 season. During the match, Chelsea were tied 1-1 and Willian was brought in as a substitute. With his explosive quality on the pitch the game eventually ended 4-2 with Willian scoring 2 consecutive goals.
Left Winger: Lorenzo Insigne (Potential Transfer):
With Eden Hazard looking like he will be replacing Cristiano Ronaldo in Real Madrid, Chelsea should grab hold of Lorenzo Insigne. Insigne showed some great combinations with Jorginho in Napoli and is seen as a unselfish player. Insigne usually gives wonderful through passes during the attacking process. The big difference with Hazard would be that the Belgian winger would commonly play a one two pass and score himself.
Forward: Gonzalo Higuaín (Potential Transfer):
Higuain and Sarri had a great relationship in Napoli and was seen as the goal scorer on the team. I strongly believe that Alvaro Morata, the current forward, is not as aggressive and lacks in making the right decisions when attacking. It is important for Chelsea to make the correct decision and find the right 'poacher' for their team in order to score goals.
*This link gives you the opportunity to share your own opinions and ideas on your own team's formation and lineup through a short Google Form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScWX6XxCdL-xLZa04mh9HQtQ4SIhnOOeto2Tzi3o8JeN_9niQ/viewform?c=0&w=1
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