Frank Lampard’s tenure at Chelsea has begun with some good football but less than great
results. A high-scoring pre-season, which saw plenty of goals scored and conceded while
using Lampard’s preferred 4-2-3-1, has given way to a less successful start to competitive
football and a return, of sorts, to Maurizio Sarri’s 4-3-3 with Jorginho anchoring midfield.
That Lampard should like the 4-2-3-1 is no surprise – it was the preferred set-up of
the man he probably absorbed most from tactically, Jose Mourinho, and it empowers the sort of
energetic pressing style that Lampard seems keen to encourage. This is no doubt part of
the reason that Mason Mount, who is familiar with Lampard’s ideals after his time at
Derby County, is starting – Mount is a dedicated and smart presser who injects energy from
midfield and his role, either as a 10 in the 4-2-3-1 or as an 8/10 hybrid in the 4-3-3
helps set Chelsea’s pressing tone.
In attack, Chelsea have a clear plan and execute it well. Jorginho drops back to provide a
passing option to the centre backs, while the advanced midfielders and wide attackers
try to find a position between the lines in the final third, with the centre forward,
either Olivier Giroud or Tammy Abraham, a longer out ball. Jorginho or the centre backs
look to effect progressive passes to players who’ve found space.
The wide players tend to tuck in, which is Pedro’s natural approach anyway, which means
that the full backs need to push forwards to provide overlaps and width. The wide players
look to progress the ball to the overlapping full backs and then push inside – the aim
seems to be to generate whipped, low crosses from these positions, although Chelsea will
also play it back through the nearest midfielder should a chance not be generated at the right
pace to cause the opposition issues.
The outer midfielders vary in role, to a degree – Mount pushes up more and looks to profit
from Giroud’s ability to hold up the ball and play players in with flicks and touches,
while Kante has a slightly deeper position to protect Chelsea on the counter. However,
Kante will also push up a lot and there are similarities to Sarri’s style in how Lampard
looks to use his two outer central midfielders to offer pass and move options in the half
space.
Chelsea are more direct and quicker under Lampard, while the use of a more traditional
centre forward as a focal point makes sense.
Defence is where Chelsea have issues, and this is partly because Lampard’s attacking,
energetic approach leaves them open. The defensive system is extremely demanding, both physically
and mentally, and it’s no surprise to see Chelsea falling off in games once opposition
substitutes have refreshed their attack, and Chelsea’s own players are tiring or new
to the dynamic of the game. Chelsea look to press from the front quite narrowly, sometimes
with Mount the most advanced player and the centre forward slightly behind him, while
the full backs or wider central midfielders are supposed to push up or cover across if
this first line of the press is bypassed.
Chelsea then defend mostly in 4-4-2 or 4-1-4-1 when they drop off and form a mid or low block,
happy to let the opposition pass the ball around in their own defensive third. The wide
attackers, the advanced side players in this block, do respond to pressing triggers when
the ball is moved wide or mis-controlled, and the central midfielders will also push
up and press if Chelsea start to compress the space.
While all these triggers make sense, they leave gaps that need to be filled, especially
when the full backs follow their man inside. What is clear from watching Chelsea so far
this season, especially in the defeat to Manchester United, is that space appearing in the midfield
area, or in the wide channels as full backs tuck in and wide players press, has been Chelsea’s
Achilles heel defensively. The exploitation of this space, either on the counter as Chelsea
attack aggressively, or from bypassing the press effectively and isolating the Chelsea
back line, has proved fertile for opposition teams and is something that Lampard needs
to sort out quickly. It’s why many teams that use a high press do so with the front
players leading it and three players back, compact across midfield, because there must
be solidity if the press is bypassed.
The complexity and physically demanding nature of Chelsea’s attacking, transitional, and
pressing game mean that it will take time to adjust. Jorginho just isn’t the right
fit for the fulcrum in an intense pressing side, either, however good Kante is alongside
him. At the moment, Cheslea’s players seem to be struggling with the aggressive nature
of the press and the gaps it leaves – if the coach doesn’t adjust, expect more high
scoring games.
Lampard’s style in build-up and attack is good – there’s a pretty clear intent and
Chelsea have some exciting attacking players. Kante will alleviate some of the defensive
issues simply by being the best in the world at his role, while the other players will
adapt and learn. The use of Mount is not to be underestimated either – it shows not
only that Lampard is willing to use young players, but is also doing it because of what
they bring to the team and his style of play – this isn’t simply pandering to the crowd’s
desire to see one of their own in the club’s colours.
But, Jorginho is still flawed defensively in this system, and Lampard needs to achieve
a balance in his preferred style and how the team need to defend. If Lampard can continue
to coax attacking intent from his team, while introducing more youngsters and tightening
Chelsea’s defensive shape, he could prove a good appointment, but it’s currently a
big “if”.