With the rumors continuing to swirl about Massimiliano Allegri leaving Juventus and taking over control of Chelsea FC, it seems like as good a time as any to discuss the potential tactical impact of this appointment.
Chelsea FC have had a disappointing season by their recent lofty standards, with the defending champions languishing near the bottom of the table for a large portion of the campaign before moving towards mid table since the sacking of Jose Mourinho.
Guus Hiddink, the interim Chelsea FC manager, has moved the squad to a more defensive minded approach, playing 2 defensive midfielders behind the attacking trio rather than one CDM and a deep-lying playmaker. The Chelsea defense has improved a bit as well, although the loss of central defender Kurt Zouma for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL will most definitely impact that defensive solidity. Hiddink is going to leave at the end of the season, so let’s take a look at Allegri’s preferred tactics and team setup.
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Massimiliano Allegri has been the manager of Juventus since July of 2014, following his departure from AC Milan, where he had led the team to their first Serie A title since 2004. In his first season in Turin, Allegri’s side captured the Scudetto, Coppa Italia, and reached the final of the Champions League where they fell to Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich.
From a tactical standpoint, Allegri prefers a 4-3-1-2 formation, however he currently uses a 3-5-2 system with Juventus as he is lacking a true ‘trequartista’, which is the terms in Italian football for what English supporters know as the No.10 role; an attacking midfielder who acts as a playmaker primarily with little defensive responsibilities. If Allegri is to join Chelsea, Eden Hazard could most definitely fit this role.
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Allegri adores a 3-man midfield, in fact to earn his UEFA License, he wrote a thesis on the roles of each player in a 3 man midfield. For those interested, it is readily available online although most versions are still in Italian. Allegri’s teams are not as focused on rigid responsibilities or solidify defined roles on the field, he allows his players to express themselves on the pitch and roam within reason to create chances.
If Allegri does indeed join Chelsea his focus on an a 3 man midfield and allowing an attacking midfielder to freely roam and create chances should allow players like Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas and Oscar to shine on the pitch at the same time. He is considered an excellent tactician who can adjust to the changes of each game, and in my opinion would be a good fit at Stamford Bridge.
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Among the other candidates associated with the Chelsea job, I believe that Allegri would be one of the best choices available to Roman Abramovich and his advisors.