Chelsea’s highly anticipated match with Tottenham is only a few days away now, and the tactical preparations will almost complete by now.
I am not a manager, but I believe I have a good idea of how this game could play out, and the key battles that will decide the match.
The first one is the midfield battle, usually where big games are won and lost. But, not just the whole midfield in general, but the job that Conor Gallagher needs to do to try and stifle James Maddison.
If Maddison gets on the ball and is allowed to create like every other game this season so far, Chelsea will be in trouble. Gallagher has to press Maddison and do a man marking job, whilst Enzo and Caicedo seek ball dominance against the likes of Yvess Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur.
Another battle will be Chelsea’s wingers against Spurs’s fullbacks. I do believe Chelsea have a big chance to win this game if Mykhailo Mudryk and Raheem Sterling can pin down Pedro Porro and likely Emerson Royal due to the fitness of Destiney Udogie and Ben Davies. Spurs’s defenders will not want to face many battles against Chelsea’s wingers and this is what on the flip side Pochettino has to focus on.
Since joining Chelsea successive managers have failed to integrate Misha’s speed and skill as an asset to the team. He should be wearing out defenders to the advantage of the team not looking out of place on his runs. That is the biggest task for Poch
To me I will try Maatsen or James at the centre of midfield than Gallagher . And I will place Broja at front or Washington. Badiashile should start . Gusto colwill be at RB/LB . Mudryk should play 90 minutes alongside Palmer / Broja . I place sterling at the bench with Gallagher .