One of the biggest surprises Chelsea head coach Maresca provided regarding team selection was not recalling Marc Cucurella to the first XI after the full-back was suspended against Liverpool and then on the bench against Newcastle last weekend.
For the third successive Premier League game, Maresca opted to play a right-back out of position at left-back, and it is having a negative impact on Chelsea’s ability to have a balanced attack.
Whenever he got possession, auxiliary left-back Reece James’ first instinct was to cut inside and play the ball with his right foot towards the middle of the pitch. It led to one dangerous counter-attack as he lost the ball, and meant left winger Pedro Neto did not see as much of the ball as he could have.
Chelsea did pose a threat in the opening 45 minutes through Noni Madueke and Gusto on the right, but with their play being so predictable, the home side were always able to get numbers over to block any crosses or passes.
When Cucurella is in the side, the opponents have more of a guessing game over what Maresca’s side will do. Maresca realised the error of his ways and brought Cucurella on for Gusto at half-time, with James moved to his preferred right-hand side.
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