Enzo Maresca’s Leicester City
in-possession details about Chelsea’s next manager🔻
in-possession details about Chelsea’s next manager🔻
Enzo Maresca’s Leicester City usual build-up shape is with a 3-2-2-3 (4-2-2-3, if + GK) shape
Inverted FB (ex: Pereira) — forming a double pivot with Harry Winks and allowing the CM/8 (ex: Ndidi/Casadei) to advance.
Box midfield with LCM (ex: Dewsbury-Hall) to create the central overload + CF.
Inverted FB (ex: Pereira) — forming a double pivot with Harry Winks and allowing the CM/8 (ex: Ndidi/Casadei) to advance.
Box midfield with LCM (ex: Dewsbury-Hall) to create the central overload + CF.
Enzo Maresca:
“In the middle, we try to create the central overloads so we have an extra man — and this allow us to control the game better.
(@CoachesVoice)
“In the middle, we try to create the central overloads so we have an extra man — and this allow us to control the game better.
(@CoachesVoice)
“All the countries are different. In Spain it’s much more technical, Italy more tactical, in England now in the last five years, ten years with many managers from different countries, but you still have your football that is about quick transitions.
His style includes baiting the press to create the ‘transitions’.
His style includes baiting the press to create the ‘transitions’.
Patterns of progression with the central overloads.
Finding the movements between the lines (CMs + CF) ➡️ Central combinations ➡️ Attack wide
Finding the movements between the lines (CMs + CF) ➡️ Central combinations ➡️ Attack wide
Enzo Maresca:
“The main player in this case become the central defender (CCB) because he has also to recognize what is going on the midfield.
If they are man to man, if these two players (double pivot) they are free and they can play — then when we try to play here (in the middle) and if they are a little bit aggressive we need to come back with the keeper to start again.”
He wants the GK (Hermansen) to be comfortable in both the RCB & LCB — depending on where the CCB drops.
“The main player in this case become the central defender (CCB) because he has also to recognize what is going on the midfield.
If they are man to man, if these two players (double pivot) they are free and they can play — then when we try to play here (in the middle) and if they are a little bit aggressive we need to come back with the keeper to start again.”
He wants the GK (Hermansen) to be comfortable in both the RCB & LCB — depending on where the CCB drops.
Hamza Choudhury can also play as the inverted FB — although, he has the experience to play as the midfielder before this season.
The inversion doesn’t always come from the RHS — Pereira & Choudhury can invert from the LB which makes the system more flexible.
For Chelsea — James, Gusto, Cucurella, & Caicedo can play in this position.
For Chelsea — James, Gusto, Cucurella, & Caicedo can play in this position.
Three of them can play together, with Choudhury forming the double pivot with Winks — pushing Pereira to advance as the CM.
Although not as frequent as the 3-2, they also can build up in a 4-2 shape, especially in deeper areas.
Both FBs stay wide ➡️ One of the CMs (ex: Ndidi) drops and forms the double pivot with Winks.
Both FBs stay wide ➡️ One of the CMs (ex: Ndidi) drops and forms the double pivot with Winks.
Also with a 4-1 (4-1-2-3/4-3-3) shape
Finding the movements BTL to progress (ex: Dewsbury-Hall and Ndidi), then can transition into their 3-2 shape with Pereira/Choudhury inverting.
Finding the movements BTL to progress (ex: Dewsbury-Hall and Ndidi), then can transition into their 3-2 shape with Pereira/Choudhury inverting.
Enzo Maresca’s Leicester City then transitions into a 3-2-5 in the middle to the final third.
Stretching the opponents with the touchline wingers and looking for the players in the channels/pockets — taking advantage of central overloads.
Stretching the opponents with the touchline wingers and looking for the players in the channels/pockets — taking advantage of central overloads.
Enzo Maresca:
“The double pivot behaving the right way, being the right position — probably, allows one of the pocket players (ex: Dewsbury-Hall & Ndidi) to receive the ball with more time and space.
“The double pivot behaving the right way, being the right position — probably, allows one of the pocket players (ex: Dewsbury-Hall & Ndidi) to receive the ball with more time and space.
With the maximum width and the movements from the 8s, it can stretch/pin/attract the opponent’s defensive block which opens up the space for CF.
A similar pattern to the deep build-up: Try to find the extra man in the middle then attack wide.
If the opponent stays narrow, the space for the 1v1 wingers (ex: Mavididi & Fatawu) will open up — both are in the Top 2 of Championship 23/24 Total 1v1s.
If the opponent stays narrow, the space for the 1v1 wingers (ex: Mavididi & Fatawu) will open up — both are in the Top 2 of Championship 23/24 Total 1v1s.
They excel in 1v1 (and even 1v2) situations but there will be moments where Leicester looks to create variations.
Mavididi often gets the overloads on the LHS and interchanges positions which allows him to move inside — the presence of KDH helps this.
Mavididi often gets the overloads on the LHS and interchanges positions which allows him to move inside — the presence of KDH helps this.
Meanwhile, Fatawu stays wide more and moves outside/inside through the isolations rather than the interchanges/combination play.
Even when the closest player offers the runs/movements, he tries to engage the 1v1 first.
LHS overloads ➡️ Isolate RHS
Even when the closest player offers the runs/movements, he tries to engage the 1v1 first.
LHS overloads ➡️ Isolate RHS
Because of their wide positioning, the opponent can get pinned and open up the space for underlapping runs (wide CB/near-side CM).
Far-side CM & winger + CF attack the box.
Far-side CM & winger + CF attack the box.
Switch play from LHS ➡️ Fatawu 1v1 ➡️ Ndidi underlaps ➡️ Cross/cutback —becomes one of their attacking patterns.
As the defensive line gets deeper — Leicester can take advantage of the halfspace to create something from there (cross/shot).
Mainly with James Justin or Wout Faes as the wide CBs.
Mainly with James Justin or Wout Faes as the wide CBs.
As you might already see from the previous examples, the CBs look to support mostly with their passes.
Setting up the tempo from the back, breaking the lines, & releasing long passes (switches of play, diagonal pass, ball over the top, halfspace cross).
Setting up the tempo from the back, breaking the lines, & releasing long passes (switches of play, diagonal pass, ball over the top, halfspace cross).
Although mostly only to the midfield line to help control the game, the wide CBs (ex: Doyle, Faes, & Justin) can also advance to join the attack.
Enzo Maresca:
"One of the reasons why we try to bring the fullback inside is defensively, because in the moment that we lose the ball, we have five players (Double Pivot + Back 3) defending the transition."
More players in the midfield/attacking line help them to control and sustain the pressure with the counter-press — the problem relies upon Leicester’s CBs being slow (apart from Justin) which creates problems in their defensive transition.
Chelsea’s CBs are quick enough so I don’t think it’s a problem for them — at least for the current squad.
"One of the reasons why we try to bring the fullback inside is defensively, because in the moment that we lose the ball, we have five players (Double Pivot + Back 3) defending the transition."
More players in the midfield/attacking line help them to control and sustain the pressure with the counter-press — the problem relies upon Leicester’s CBs being slow (apart from Justin) which creates problems in their defensive transition.
Chelsea’s CBs are quick enough so I don’t think it’s a problem for them — at least for the current squad.
Despite the 3-2-5 being more preferrable in most games, Enzo Maresca looks to tweak his team with a 3-1-6 (diamond midfield) against a low block of back 5.
Pereira can advance as the LCM/RCM — with Akgun/Dewsbury-Hall playing as the AM
(Cole Palmer...)
Pereira can advance as the LCM/RCM — with Akgun/Dewsbury-Hall playing as the AM
(Cole Palmer...)
Enzo Maresca on Ricardo Pereira.
“One of the qualities that you need is to be able to move yourself in small spaces — we used to say, to move in the traffic.
Pereira plays as the RB, LB, inverted FB, & CM — who will be Chelsea’s version of him?
“One of the qualities that you need is to be able to move yourself in small spaces — we used to say, to move in the traffic.
Pereira plays as the RB, LB, inverted FB, & CM — who will be Chelsea’s version of him?
With the 6 players pinning the opponent’s defensive block — there is a space that the wide CBs can take advantage.
— Forming a 2-2-6 for more control
— Line breaking pass, halfspace cross
— Attacking the space with ball-carrying
— Offering the movements runs to attack with 7 players
(videos below)
— Forming a 2-2-6 for more control
— Line breaking pass, halfspace cross
— Attacking the space with ball-carrying
— Offering the movements runs to attack with 7 players
(videos below)
WOUT FAES.
Enzo Maresca won the Championship with Leicester and achieved promotion to the Premier League for the 24/25 season.
He said this at the start of the season.
He said this at the start of the season.
Chelsea's CCB
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