At home, The Blues should have the confidence to play a 4-3-3 – especially considering the lessons learned in the first leg.
Then comes the destabilizing of Napoli’s attacking triumvirate: six teams have adopted a three-man defence in Serie A so far this season, in order to play with three strikers – not two wingers and a lone striker, three strikers. The problem with the formation is finding wing backs enduring enough to operate both defensively and on the attack whilst playing on the flanks: yet, in Maggio, Dossena and Zuniga, Napoli have three durable wingers.
This affords the Italians three strikers and with Terry missing and Ivanovic likely to play right back, despite questionably unable to cope with Cavani and Lavezzi as a partnership within the triumvirate, David Luiz and Cahill are likely to partner each other at centre-back much like the first leg.
What must differ from the first leg is Michael Essien. If Chelsea are to overturn the deficit, The Bison may well be the necessary component.
As well as the tactical and strategic approach to the day, Chelsea can not only learn from themselves, but from Andre Villas-Boas’ previous experience of Napoli, as aforementioned, and Manchester City’s 1-1 draw on their Champions league debut.
Similarly to most teams that have taken on Napoli in recent years, Inter struggled at Stadio San Paolo. But, at the San Siro Mourinho’s men were able to come out victorious with a 2-1 win. Under Jose Mourinho, Villas-Boas was the meticulously critical opposition observer, taking four days to compile each scout report and in the case of playing at home, Inter benefitted from such in-depth analysis and took all three points. Chelsea may’ve suitably prepared for the first leg, but Terry’s last minute pull out would’ve effected preparations, despite an expected Plan B, and the used personnel was seemingly not the correct personnel on the night.
Furthermore, Chelsea can learn from the City game, which finished a score draw at one a piece. Man City laid an early siege at Napoli’s door but were not able to take advantage and the further the game went on, with the score still level, Napoli’s endurance shone through and, happy to sit deep for the majority of the game, a quick breakaway during another intense City attack was enough to put them into a short-lived lead.
Inter’s 2-1 win against Napoli during AVB’s time there, came thanks to two early goals. With City threatening to do the same, but ultimately failing, all signs point to Chelsea attacking from the off and chucking caution to the wind, along with patience. In the group stages, Chelsea took the most shots and an equally penetrating performance will be needed. If Chelsea can take a lead, they should take confidence in changing from a 4-3-3 to a 4-5-1, continuing to play with a lone striker, thus exploiting Napoli’s tactics.
Chelsea are capable of overturning this two-goal deficit: the question – possibly answered as soon as Villas-Boas announces his team sheet – is, is their manager capable?
Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit
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