Liam Rosenior’s tactical approach may seem similar to Enzo Maresca’s at first glance, but there are notable differences upon closer inspection. Both start with a 4-2-3-1 formation, but they often end up with different setups. This article will explore the contrasts between the two and examine Rosenior’s changes during his short time in charge.
Liam Rosenior’s Tactical Changes at Chelsea
Enzo Maresca’s Typical Formation
During his final phase with Chelsea, the Italian coach employed an intriguing strategy where both full-backs shifted into midfield while one of the midfielders advanced, allowing wingers to stay wide.
The midfield duo often had one player pushing forward while the other stayed back, creating challenges in transition. As both full-backs widened to cover the flanks, Caicedo was sometimes left to shield the defense alone. However, this wasn’t a fixed approach; Gusto occasionally moved into advanced areas, acting almost like an attacking midfielder.
Later, there were variations to this setup, featuring a consistent midfield duo with Enzo played in a more advanced role. Nevertheless, a key feature of Maresca’s strategy was the split pivot, with wingers providing width for one-on-one situations as players overloaded centrally to attack the box.
Changes Under Rosenior
Since his appointment, Rosenior has adapted the 4-2-3-1 formation, maintaining the same system but altering player roles and positioning.
As noted, Andrey Santos has emerged as a regular in the defensive midfield role, sometimes substituted by James. This arrangement keeps the two midfielders closer together in front of the defense, allowing Enzo to occupy the number ten position more consistently. This shift helps improve the defense’s stability.
The full-backs are now utilized in more dynamic ways, often staying wider and supporting the high press. They contribute with underlapping or overlapping runs while their primary role is to assist the wingers in Rosenior’s tactics.
The goalkeeper also plays a vital role; Rob Sanchez or Filip Jorgensen position themselves higher up the pitch, providing an additional passing option for defenders. This closer midfield pairing facilitates building up play more effectively against pressing teams.
Adaptive Strategies
Aside from his established roles and formation in the 4-2-3-1, Rosenior has demonstrated flexibility by using a 3-4-2-1 formation against teams like Napoli and Arsenal. This setup lets creative players like Enzo and Estevao exploit half-spaces while wing-backs deliver width. The back three and pivot improve transition defense and simplify build-up play against pressing opponents.
In the match against Arsenal, an interesting adjustment was made as Liam Delap, primarily a striker, positioned himself against the right-back to challenge defensively and create space on the field. Although this strategy didn’t yield success due to Arsenal’s strong full-backs, it highlights Rosenior’s willingness to adapt based on the opponent’s strengths.