On January 24, Beijing time, the 23rd round of the Premier League focused battle, Chelsea defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-0. This famous handsome fight ended with Tuchel's victory over Conte and the completion of a three-game killing streak against the latter!
Three-back PK, four-back duel
Tuchel and Conte have never played each other before this season, but in the last 18 days, they have met for the third time! The first two were in the semi-finals of the League Cup, where Chelsea beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0, 1-0 to advance to the final.
Tuchel and Conte have similarities in that they play in a three-back formation. However, in the two-legged match of the League Cup, Tuchel took the lead in making changes, changing to 4222, and the effect was obvious. For the game, he continued to use the four-back formation, but became 4141, with Jorginho single-back.
Conte has finally changed, abandoning the three-back and playing the four-back, but also the classic 442 formation, with parallel positions in the midfield and the backcourt. Ben Davis and Tanganga played full-backs, while full-backs used Sesseignon and Doherty.
Chelsea's moves: each side has its own way of playing, and the line makes a goal
Chelsea's 4141 is actually an asymmetrical, swinging formation. Attacking, left-back Sal was largely unpressed, rarely passing the half, and the left attack was handed over to left forward Odoi, taking advantage of his strong personal ability, while left-back Kovacic assisted.
When right-back Azpilicueta pressed for an assist, Chelsea were the three centre-back formations in the backfield. Right forward Ziyech likes to cut inside with the ball, right forward Mount also pulls very close, the two form a bilateral forward play, plus AZP, the right side of the attack has a personnel advantage.
Less than a minute into the opening, Mount pulled a cross from the right, but Lukaku's strafing shot was high. In the 32nd minute, Mount and Ziyech combined on the right and crossed the middle of the road, and the little monster grabbed the point and did not kick the ball.
It wasn't until the start of the second half that the Blues' flank play was finally rewarded. Hudoği dribbled the ball on the left, turned around and wiped past Tanganga and then cut inside to send a cross, Ziyeh stopped the ball and the left-footed arc ball broke the goal!
Notice that when Ziyeh receives the ball, both Mount and Azpilicueta are on it, helping him out of the space to shoot, which is the success of the tactic.
In the 54th minute, Hudson-Odoi used his personal breakthrough to create a free-kick, Mount crossed and Thiago Silva's header broke the goal to seal the win.
Conte's tactics: a bit faceless, blocked by opponents
Compared to Tuchel's arrangement of Ziyech and Odoi to play on both wings, Conte's starting is too conservative, Sesseignon and Doherty are both full-backs, the attack is not good, and it is difficult to complete the turn and form a frontal attack in the face of the pressure of Chelsea defenders.
In the case of low possession, the two lines of defense of Tottenham's 442 formation were flattened by Chelsea, Hoybil and Winks had difficulty completing the ball and offensive and defensive conversions, Kane and Belwyn could not get support in front, Kane withdrew to take the ball, and would also be surrounded by the opposing midfielder.
Therefore, Spurs do not have the offensive cooperation on the "surface", and can only rely on the counterattack to find the "point" in front and try their luck. Chances were not absent, but Sesseignon's shots were too poor and his shot in the 37th minute was outrageous. In the 40th minute, although Kane scored a goal, he first pushed down Thiago Silva, so the goal was invalid.
Trailing by two goals, Conte immediately replaced Lucas Jr. and Skip and changed to 433. However, the 433 is more like 4321, there is still no side attack to pull the width, everyone is crowded in the middle, right in the middle of Chelsea's arms, Tuchel replaced Kantai to strengthen the defense.
With a 2-0 lead, Tuchel took the initiative to recover and replaced him with Marcos Alonso, completely becoming a five-back. Spurs are not good at tackling tough problems, lacking Son Xingyu and Lo Celso, let alone creativity. Although Conte replaced Brian Hill with a four-striker, it did not help, and there was no hope of scoring.
In the end, Chelsea beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0, and Tuchel beat Conte to complete a three-game streak against the Italian iron coach, which also proved that he deserved to be the best head coach of FIFA in 2021!