Pep Guardiola and Antonio Conte have been furiously plotting each other’s downfall this week, as one of the most intriguing tactical battles in years approaches. The Premier League leaders, Chelsea, travel to Manchester City with a solitary point’s advantage in tow.
For the neutral, it is comforting to know both managers have enjoyed a full week to prepare for their meeting at the Etihad, with a multitude of tactical facets undoubtedly scrutinised until the early hours each day.
One of those will be how City prevent Chelsea’s back three from playing out of the back. And while Tottenham provided a glimpse of a solution last weekend – positioning Son Heung-min in an advanced position to stall Victor Moses’ buccaneering runs forwards – Guardiola will hope to oversee a more thorough job. Pep’s admiration for Conte is well documented and while the game will not merely be decided by City’s effectiveness in unsettling the Blues’ back three, it is sure to have an enormous bearing on the outcome. Mauricio Pochettino scoffed earlier in the season when quizzed as to whether he had implemented a back three in reaction to Chelsea’s surge up the table after implementing the system, though it has undoubtedly gained in popularity: success breeds imitation from rivals.
Juventus, who continue to utilise a back three under Massimiliano Allegri, endured a torrid time last weekend against Genoa, who potentially offered up a better approach than Spurs on how to disrupt the back three. Admittedly Allegri was forced to use Dani Alves and Mehdi Benatia alongside Leonardo Bonucci with Andrea Barzagli injured and Giorgio Chiellini only able to take a place on the bench. Genoa boss Ivan Juric – who guided Crotone to Serie A promotion last season – tasked Geo Simeone with triggering the Grifone’s high press and committed as many as five of his front seven players into advanced areas dependent on the side of the pitch the Old Lady shifted possession to.
It seems as if Saturday’s game will also unveil a similar pattern, with Chelsea forced to play through a swarm of City players into a less congested central area when in possession – a refreshing change from yesteryear’s top four battles. Conte’s advantage over Allegri’s side last weekend is the dynamism of N’Golo Kante, who must surely scurry across the width of the pitch to offer neat triangles to play around City’s press. That is something that none of Miralem Pjanic, Hernanes – who was far too static – or Sami Khedira could muster in a furious opening to the game at the Marassi.
David Luiz will occupy the role of Leonardo Bonucci, as the ball-player at the back. The Brazilian will likely be tasked with playing a more ambitious role than he has done to this point in his second spell at the club though. Luca Rigoni, who flanked Simeone with Lucas Ocampos, was particularly effective at moving inside to disrupt Bonucci and should Raheem Sterling overcome a slight knock, this will surely be his job. If, as expected, Pep implements both David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne in behind Aguero, dropping Yaya Toure back down to the bench, it presents the ultimate test of Conte’s 3-4-3 at Chelsea. Marcos Alonso, who doesn’t possess the quickest feet, and Victor Moses – enjoying the form of his life – will have to strike a balance between tracking back to assist Cesar Azpilicueta and Gary Cahill and maintaining a high and wide position to provide an outlet.
While other issues could arise to determine the outcome of this huge game, the effectiveness of Conte’s back three to negotiate the ball up the field is bound to be vital. Pep will be aware of Genoa and Spurs’ success, now he must refine his approach if he is to slow Chelsea’s resurgence.
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