Could Conte’s Favorite Formation Trigger Chelsea Departures?

Could Conte’s Favorite Formation Trigger Chelsea Departures?

It may be time to say goodbye to the way Chelsea have been playing up to now. Even though the almighty 4-3-3 which can turn into a 4-5-1 is the formation used by most of the biggest clubs in football, maybe Chelsea need to try something else. There could not be a better moment to make this change other than this June when Conte will take over. According to Metro, the Italian is looking to implement a 4-4-2 formation that can also play as a 4-2-4 when all-out attack is called for. The beauty of this formation is that it will allow Chelsea to sign an additional star to use in the attack next to Costa and that versatility will increase. The options would become endless as building a team to handle such a formation could allow any manager to switch player positions, switch tactics on the go and increase and decrease pressure whenever such actions are called for.

The change in formation and the fact that Conte is not the man to wing it and improvise, could lead to several departures as well as to several new arrivals. Let’s take a look and who might leave and why and then at who could join Chelsea and for what reason. (The defense will remain pretty much the same given the fact there were always 4 defenders in front of Courtois)

Oscar, Obi Mikel or Loftus-Cheek vs Fabregas, Matic, Nainggolan

One of these guys is bound to leave. Oscar is that kind of a player who needs to play in a formation that allows him to stay behind the attack. Not on the right, not on the left, but down the middle. He is an attacking midfielder who does not handle defending very well. Basically he is what Ozil is for Arsenal, but the Gunners play a different formation. Interest from Juventus could also be a factor in his departure.

Mikel is not good with the offense. He is the kind of defensive midfielder who needs to have two or three other midfielders in front and that may not happen because Chelsea have brilliant wingers not brilliant attacking midfielders.

Loftus-Cheek will have to try and steal the spot from either Fabregas or Matic. It will be difficult as they seem like the right players to use in a 4-4-2 formation. Add to that the fact that Roma’s Radja Nainggolan is rumored as being one of Conte’s favorites and you might get why Loftus-Cheek made this list.

Pato, Remy, Falcao, Traore vs Costa, Pedro, Griezmann

Falcao is out by default. He has a massive salary and will go down in the club’s history as an unfortunate experiment. Pato does not look up to the task of playing for Chelsea and Remy is perfect as a substitute but is not willing to maintain that position. Traore is young and has not decided what is his best positon yet. Unfortunately, if Chelsea want to win it all, the youngster is not a solution – not yet anyway.  There’s also much interest from the Blues when it comes to Atletico’s Antoine Griezmann. If the Frenchman does come to Stamford Bridge, there would be no chance any of the 4 would get to play. Add to that Pedro who can play both a winger and a striker, and you get why the 4 mentioned above are out.

This is how the team could look like in a 4-4-2 formation:

1437043_Chelsea