After Marc Cucurella played in midweek, we were wondering what the setup today would be for Chelsea at full back.
When the team sheet came out, it looked like a repeat of last week, with Reece James on the right and Malo Gusto the left. But from the warmups before kick off, it became clear they had switched sides from where they played against Liverpool.
Enzo Maresca explained the move in his press conference after the game:
“We moved Reece to the left side and Cole to the left pocket. The reason was to try and attack that side and have Malo in the right pocket. It worked very well,” the Italian coach said of his latest tweak.
James has 16 Premier League assists to his name now after just 110 appearances, and could rack up a lot more this season if he’s able to stay fit.
Maresca’s full back flexibility adding new dimensions to his side
It did work well, and it means there are still big questions about next week’s lineup. Now not only do we not know which full backs Maresca will pick, we don’t even know which side he will play them on.
With the current crop of players he’s got so many options, and almost all of them seem pretty happy playing on either side, playing as a central defender or even inverting into central midfield. It gives Maresca an almost infinite number of combinations and uses, and it’s clearly something he’s already making use of tactically.
If we can continue to add that flexibility in other parts of the team, we will really be onto something. James and Gusto are two of the potentially most dynamic and creative players in the squad and getting them firing is essential.
