Chelsea were poor against Manchester United, very poor. That for the first time in a decade they did not manage a shot on target is damning. And it is true that they have not of late been playing with the relentlessness they did through the final three months of last year.
Bryce Harper Youth Jersey But the idea they were somehow been found out on Sunday seems weirdly exaggerated. The title race may be on again but Chelsea have a lead of four points over Tottenham, whatever psychological pressure Spurs may be able to apply in Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final.
In terms of shape, Chelsea have had two major strengths since making the switch to 3-4-2-1 after the defeat to Arsenal in their sixth Premier League game of the season.
http://www.officialnationalstore.com/Chris_Heisey_JerseyAndrew MacDonald Womens Jersey José Mourinho is not the first to see the best way of countering the pair as being to use three central defenders, so one can always step out to meet the opponent with the knowledge the other two are covering. For those who see the game primarily in positional terms, which Mourinho probably does not, it is the obvious solution.
All three of the coaches working in the Premier League who were at Barcelona when Louis van Gaal was in charge in the late 90s have a grounding in juego de posición and have tried the back three against Antonio Conte’s side.
Bernie Parent Womens Jersey First was Ronald Koeman but Everton were beaten 5-0 in November. Then came Pep Guardiola but Manchester City, despite being the better side for almost an hour, lost 3-1 a month later.
Mourinho simply applied the same logic but with a greater emphasis on defence and with greater resolve. Eight teams have played a back three against Chelsea this season. Six have lost. Recognising a solution and being able to enact it are not the same thing.
There were other issues beyond United’s defensive excellence. Ander Herrera did a fine job of marking Hazard, who is so key to Chelsea’s attacking approach he has created 66 chances this season, 25 more than any of his team-mates.
http://www.officialflyersteamonline.com/Bernie_Parent_Jersey Other sides may be tempted to follow the Herrera model and man-mark Hazard, although for teams used to playing zonally, losing a midfielder to such a specific task can be disorienting. Hazard, anyway, may not seem quite so bereft when he has Marcos Alonso back as the left wing-back, offering a familiar option outside him.
