World Class Coaching Tactical Analysis

Chelseas Midfield Rotations

Jose Mourinho has had unparalleled success since 2004, he has won every possible trophy

domestically in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain, while winning the Champions League twice in this

period. His teams are always defensively strong, have a very organised system to deal with defensive

transitions and are always incredibly dangerous on the counter-attack.

One aspect of Jose Mourinhos teams that dont get the praise they deserve, is the fluid attacking

play that he gets from his teams, and this Chelsea team have some great players which allow for a

fluid and attractive style of play, but the Mourinho defensive transition is always an element to look

for, which explains why Juan Mata is being left out of the team in favour of Willian.

Chelsea Movements Lopsided 4-2-3-1 higher on the side that Hazard plays in

Blue; Back 4. Black; Mid 2. Yellow; Mid 3. Red; Striker

Left side (3 + 11 controls the movements); When Ashley Cole plays at 3, he will overlap and give

Hazard more freedom to move inside. As he does this, 10 will drop off to help keep 3 in central

midfield and allow 6 to cover left centre and protect the move forward from the left back. 9 will drift

right and give more space for 11.

If 3 doesnt go high, 9 will drift left and re-create the width on the left side as 11 moves inside. If 9

drifts left, 7 will move inside to have both 11 and 7 between the lines, where 8 will drift wide (if

Ramires is playing)

Central (10 and 8 controls the movements); When 8 (Lampard or Ramires) moves forward between

the lines, 10 will drop deep and help build the attack. If 8 arcs around to the centre-left side, this

opens up a diagonal pass from 6 into 7 between the lines for either Hazard/Mata or Willian to come

inside as Oscar helps balance the play in central midfield.

Right side (7 and 10 control the movements);

7 must help protect the right side to re-balance the ream as 11 (Hazard) is to stay high in the

lopsided formation. He will move inside as 10 drops deep when 8 moves forward between the lines

to the left-centre, as 11 stays high and wide on the left side.

Chelsea v Liverpool

Lampard (8), Oscar (10) and Hazard (7) Rotation

Here, Luiz is in possession, and has Oscar in support on high right, as Lampard moves into Oscars

position between the lines. Henderson has dropped deeper to block the pass into Lampard, which

opens up space for Hazard to move into and receive, drawing out Agger and opening space outside.

As Hazard is under pressure as he receives, Luiz shifts over allow a counter-press incase Hazard loses

possession. Lampard and Willian are in positions where if either Allen or Lucas are drawn to the ball

that he is behind their eyeline, allowing to receive behind the opponent in a dangerous area.

Oscar breaking forward form midfield

Oscar helps overload central midfield 3v2, and when possession is won, he finds Hazard between 3

players and breaks ahead of him into the space behind Lucas and Agger.

Hazard drags Agger out of position

As Hazard dribbles inside, Agger is unsure if he should go with Hazard and follow his run, or leave

him and return to his position. As Willian has moved inside, he takes Johnson with him and 1 touch

can release Oscar if Hazard can find him.

After the pass to Oscar, Hazard arcs round Willian and scores from 25m from a left-centre position.

Right to centre rotation Lampard moves Lucas to make the space

Again, Oscar drops deep as Lampard moves between the lines, as Lampard moves to right centre,

this opens up more space for Hazard to move into between the lines and into a position to attack

the back 4. Ivanovic will move forward to occupy the wide position as Hazard overloads centrally.

Willian diagonal run to open up the space to free Hazard in the centre

Willian makes a diagonal sprint to drag over Lucas and open up the space for Hazard, but also to

offer a 2v1 on the side v Johnson with Oscar. If Lucas is dragged across, Hazard will be free in the

centre, between the lines and in the zone that Lucas protects.

As Oscar has a 2v1 on the side, he takes the preferred option which is to attack inside and look to

combine with Hazard. Note Skrtel has had to drift wide to fill in at right back, as Lucas moves to

centre back, leaving the space that Hazard wants to attack. The run of Etoo across Sakho makes him

uncomfortable and stops him from moving he back 4 up to squeeze the play.

Hazard releases Willian on the left and overlaps to change positions

Oscar dribbles inside to bring Johnson with him, leaving the space on the side for Willian to receive

comfortably, with Oscar, Etoo and Ivanovic attacking the box (out of picture).

Hazard overlaps to make a 2v2 on the side with Oscar free in zone 14

Hazards 1st time pass to Willian is followed up with an overlap to help support his team mate.

Willian should pass into Oscar but tries to dribble inside, but eventually finds Luiz who shoots.

These are just a few examples of different ways that Chelse find space between phase 2 and phase 3

to create scoring chances

Training Session for Rotation and Moving from Wide to Centre and Centre to Wide

Practice 1 Creating space for team mates to move from wide-centre

Make a 40x30 yard box, with a 15 yard central zone (15-15-10) with a GK 15m from the end line

Number 10 (Oscar) must move the defender marking him to create space for 7 or 11

(Hazard/Willian) to move inside and receive between the lines, who will turn and find 9 (Giroud)

who will receive to play 1v1 with the GK to score.

The 4v3 in the initial area will look to find passes into the next zone, either into 10 who wants to link

play with 2/3 or preferably 7/11/9 when possible.

If you want, 6/8 can help the attack from deep (Aaron Ramsey support) provided 7/11 stay wide and

open the space for the deep run, as we should only have 2 in the central zone for 2v1, or 3 for 3v2 if

the defence change shape, or the coach adds in an extra defensive midfielder (ie 4-2-3-1).

Coaching Points:

10, 7 and 11 must always scan and see the movement around them to know where and

when to run for themselves or for a team mate

9 needs to play on the blindside and offer passes to feet or diagonal runs into through balls

The 4 (2,3,6,8) should keep the ball moving, stretching the 3 pressing players

If 10 moves to the side of 11, 7 drops in, and vice versa (diagonal penetration)

The front 4 can rotate, 10 can go left as 11 moves forward as 9 drops to disrupt marking

Progressions/Variations:

Add in a last defender who will rush from the goal line to press the CF

One of the 2 CBs can recover to defend 1v1 or 2v1 with pressing defender

Change angle of last defender pressure if you want to

Add in a 2nd defensive midfielder look for pass into CF if pass into AM isnt on

Practice 2 Building from Phase 2 into Phase 3 to cross the end line and score (attack v mid-block)

Zonal Attack Game

Mark an area of 40 long x 60 wide Back 4 and Mid 3 defend v 2-3-1 attack (7v6 defence overload)

Similar to the previous practice, the attack must look for ways to change zones. The Black is #10,

yellows are #7 and #11, the striker is red, while the 2 controllers are blue.

Guided Discovery Practice Players Framework to allow freedom of movement within a structure

Players must use the 7 spaces available, (there are 12 zones above) and have no more than 2 players

inside each zone. Also, the players must try to play on different lines, horizontally and vertically.

Possible Movement pattern to create space and move opponents around the field

An example of the movement patterns could be; Pass from 8 to 6 to 7 to 9

11 drops deep to offer short wide pass on line 1

10 moves into the half space between channel and centre on line 2

7 moves into centre and brings FB with him on line 3

8 moves to support 7 on line 1 (Triangle with 11, 6 and 8)

9 moves wide to open up space to play around CB if he presses 7 on line 3

As 7 receives, he can pass 1st time into 9 who should have 8 on right and 10 on left

End of move over end line; new positions; 11 is LCM, 6 RCM, 8 RAM, 7 CAM, 10 LAM, 9 CF

Coaches only offer ideas, and ask questions, the players will tell you how far they can run, but we

must be mindful of energy management if a player makes 6 x 60m runs, he may be unable to

perform when in possession, so if we can have players rotate positions and allow a rest period in

another position to save the sprint back, this can conserve energy and make the time you have in

possession more unpredictable

Coaches must give ideas, possibilities and the players ownership of the way they can move and

interchange positions within the set style of play!

Stevie Grieve Jan 2014; Twitter @Stevie Grieve; Email StevieGrieve@Hotmail.com