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Thứ Tư, 19 tháng 10, 2016

David Luiz still has mistakes in him, but looks a natural fit in Chelsea’s three-man defence

David Luiz still has mistakes in him, but looks a natural fit in Chelsea’s three-man defence
The deadline-day signing of David Luiz still seems like a strange bit of business from Chelsea, and he is still one of football’s most overrated players. However, manager Antonio Conte has implemented the perfect formation to make the most of his attributes and protect Chelsea from his weaknesses.
It was almost a given that Conte would revert to 3-4-3 at some point with this Chelsea team, having had such success with the formation with Juventus. In fact, it was surprising when Chelsea started the season with a 4-5-1 line-up.
Conte won three straight Serie A titles with Juve and he used a 3-4-3 system with the Italy national team, who impressed at Euro 2016 and only went out to Germany at the quarter-final stage on penalties.

    With Juve and Italy he was able to field Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli for the majority of his games in charge as that back three.
    All three are no-nonsense centre-backs. You would note their defensive ability ahead of any skill on the ball, although Bonucci’s sensational long pass to set up Italy’s opener against Belgium at Euro 2016 is an example of the all-round quality of the trio.

      Conte has similar defenders at his disposal at Chelsea. He could, for example, play Kurt Zouma, John Terry and Gary Cahill, when they are all fit. Plenty of height, power and stability there.
      However, the way Conte set his side out against Leicester City on Saturday was interesting, with Luiz playing centrally and Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta either side of him.
      Even though he played there previously for Benfica, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil, Luiz is not great in a two-man centre-back pairing. He is often a liability. He loses position or concentration too frequently.

        However, in a three-man defence, Luiz was protected. He played as the deepest of the three and was able to get plenty of time on the ball to start attacks. He almost played as an old fashioned sweeper, in the mould of the great Franz Beckenbauer.
        Leicester played two strikers, which could have been problematic, but Luiz has the pace to mop up any danger. His reading of the game from such a deep position was spot on, too.

          As a result, Luiz’s highlights from the 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge were two testing free kicks and his distribution.
          There is no pretending that Conte had always planned to use Luiz in this formation – he would not have signed him at the last minute otherwise – but the Brazilian is a good fit nonetheless.
          Some of his worst performances over the past few seasons have cost his sides dearly. The woeful display in the famous 7-1 World Cup semi-final drubbing by Germany is one example.

            In April 2015, he was nutmegged on the halfway line by Luis Suarez as Barcelona won 3-1 in Paris in a Uefa Champions League quarter-final.
            Hopefully for Chelsea, any similar mistakes will be covered by the extra bodies around him.
            Of course, there are other factors that will make this 3-4-3 work, such as the quality of the two wide players and the freedom afforded to Eden Hazard. But Luiz looks ready made for this three-man Chelsea defence.

            Chủ Nhật, 21 tháng 8, 2016

            Signing defenders is hard in a 'crazy' market - Conte

            Signing defenders is hard in a 'crazy' market - Conte
            The Italian can count on only four experienced defenders in his squad, but anticipates difficulty signing reinforcements owing to the inflation of the transfer window
            Antonio Conte has declared that bolstering Chelsea's defensive ranks will be his main priority ahead of the Premier League transfer window deadline, but lamented how 'crazy' the market is.
            Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill, John Terry and Cesar Azpilicueta are the only experienced defenders within Conte's squad at present.
            Conte has been targetting new defenders all summer given youngsters Matt Miazga, Nathaniel Chalobah and Ola Aina are among those providing back-up.
            The situation is critical given Kurt Zouma is a long-term absentee after sustaining a ligament injury in February, though the club have so far failed to lure the likes of Leonardo Bonucci or Kalidou Koulibaly to Stamford Bridge.
            "If you look now at the Chelsea squad you can see we have only four defenders, and these four defenders started today," Conte told reporters after Chelsea's 2-1 win at Watford. "[But] if [we have] one injury we are in trouble. 
            "The club and me we know this and we are talking every day to improve the squad but we know also that it's very difficult in this market because it's crazy. 
            "I don't want to buy just to buy, I want to buy the right player for Chelsea, for the present, for the future, with a good prospect. It's important we have a good investment for the future."
            One player Conte is keen to hold onto is Cesc Fabregas, despite reports linking the midfielder with a return to Spain.
            Fabregas started on the bench once again at Vicarage Road, the 29-year-old coming on for his first appearance of the season and setting up Diego Costa's winning goal.
            "We all know Cesc, he's a great player with great technique and with a good pass and good assist," Conte added.
            "I'm pleased, I'm pleased for Cesc because he's working very hard in training sessions to show me that he deserves to play. 
            "It's important because I want to see this, all the players show me that they deserve to start the game and if they show the right commitment I'm a very happy manager.

            "When you have many players that think for the team not themselves, it's important and I see this situation happening in Chelsea and it's good."

            Thứ Năm, 14 tháng 7, 2016

            Kurt Zouma snapped at Chelsea’s training ground as defender steps up recovery from horrific knee injury

            In a campaign of disappointments, Kurt Zouma’s devastating knee injury in February was a low point in Chelsea’s 2015/2016 season.

            The French defender had begun to establish himself as first choice in the heart of the Blues’ defence but was cruelly sidelined for around six to nine months after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament when he landed awkwardly in the club’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United.

            The 21-year-old had hoped to represent his country at Euro 2016 but instead he has spent the last five months depserately trying to recover from one of the cruelest injuries in sport.

            However, the light is at the end of the tunnel for Zouma who is now back in training with his Chelsea team-mates who returned to pre-season training earlier this week.

            John Terry, who was handed a new one-year deal at the end of the last season, uploaded a photo onto his Instagram today that showed Zouma was back with his colleagues and he is expected to be fit by September.

            Thứ Năm, 9 tháng 6, 2016

            Chelsea injury boost: Kurt Zouma reveals plans for Blues return

            KURT ZOUMA is hopeful he will return to action for Chelsea in time for the new season following a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

            Kurt Zouma

            Zouma missed the second half of the Blues' season with a cruciate knee ligament injury he picked up in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United in February.
            His absence was a big blow for Chelsea and disrupted their defence, with Guus Hiddink never settling on a centre-back pairing.
            Chamberlain Nainggolan Higuain Pogba
            However, the 21-year-old has good news for Chelsea fans and has revealed his rehabilitation is going well.
            "I don't know when I'll be back out on the pitch but everything is going well," he told The Sun.
            "I'm kicking the ball around a bit – I'm not in any pain and I feel good."
            Zouma was initially a shoe-in for Didier Dechamps' France squad for Euro 2016 but the injury ended his hopes of playing, meaning his next action will come in a Chelsea shirt.
            And when asked about the possibility of returning for the start of the 2016/17 season, he said: "I hope so...
            "I think I've got enough time to be ready. But I don't have a precise date."

            Thứ Ba, 3 tháng 5, 2016

            Guus Hiddink: Injury update on Eden Hazard, John Terry and Kurt Zouma

            Attacking midfielder Eden Hazard will feature in today's away game against Bournemouth, interim manager Guus Hiddink revealed.
            The Belgium international will play for the first since the Champions League exit Paris Saint-Germain but defenders John Terry and Kurt Zouma are still on the sidelines.
            "He [Eden Hazard] is available and will travel."
            - Guus Hiddink
            "He [Eden Hazard] is available and will travel," Hiddink told reporters.
            "Not for the whole game, but he's available to play.
            "This week he trained physically without any complaints, which is a good signal. He was very alive.
            "[John Terry?] I like people to be involved in the team, sometimes we take more than the 18 on the list, sometimes we take youth players for experience,' the Blues boss explained.
            "Also, John is very committed and he's annoyed about the injury. He desperately wants to be with the team.
            "He has his treatment here and he's done individual training. I'm hoping he'll step up next week and we'll see how it goes for the last couple of games.
            "If we play on Monday week he has to be training with the group by Thursday [to have a chance of playing]
            "[Kurt] Zouma is working very hard, I like his spirit and the fact he's trying to come back as soon as possible, but of course not this season. He's a very tough and encouraging guy."

            Thứ Bảy, 12 tháng 3, 2016

            Kurt Zouma is walking again!

            Chelsea land is slightly abuzz with PSG's latest social media antics, but here's more social media short video of a far more happy and exciting nature.  Kurt Zouma is walking again!  And doing some sort of ... dance?  I have no idea.  Whatever it is, it looks like a great time in the recovery pool.
            Oh wait, he's dabbing, isn't he?  Well, whatever works.  As long as it speeds along his recovery.  Kids these days.  Swag.
            In any case, Zouma is obviously not expected to be back healthy and playing until sometime next season.  The typical recovery from ACL surgery is a minimum of six-to-nine months, but it could be up to two years even before a player recovers (most of) his previous abilities, movement, strength, agility.  Sure, there have been some high-profile success stories of players making amazing comebacks from such a devastating injury (the NFL's Adrian Peterson and Rob Gronkowski are the most obvious ones), but we should probably temper our expectations.
            Hopefully Zouma does make a full recovery, of course.  Looks like he's off to a good start.

            Chelsea vs. Everton 2016 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch FA Cup online

            The FA Cup has reached the sixth round, and the highest-profile match of the round sees Everton host Chelsea in what should be a very exciting match. Both teams are eager for a silver lining in their season, and the FA Cup would be an awfully shiny consolation prize for a tough campaign that hasn't exactly gone to plan.
            Everton come into this match hopeful of a good result, having beaten Chelsea once at home in the league this season and battling them to a 3-3 draw in London. They're also catching Chelsea reeling off their Champions League knockout in what was a truly uninspiring performance against Paris Saint-Germain -- but that could be a double-edged sword.
            That disappointment could prove to be the spark that Chelsea need to get "right" and start a late-season surge. We'll know pretty early in this match if that's the case -- if Chelsea come out swinging fast and hard, Everton will very likely finish this match with their heads hanging low in defeat. If not, they've got a real chance to send Chelsea back to London licking their wounds.
            Key player -- Willian (Chelsea)
            Everton have struggled all year against guys who run at their back line all day long, and that's exactly what Willian brings to the table. His ability to unsettle a back line and create holes for his teammates to exploit is nearly unparalleled in England, and when you add his immense skill on set-pieces to the equation, he'll be the key man in Chelsea's efforts to knock Everton down.
            Key matchup -- Romelu Lukaku (Everton) vs. Gary Cahill (Chelsea)
            Lukaku is always eager to try to get one over on his old teammates at Chelsea, and Everton fans have to be drooling at the prospect of him lining up against Cahill right now. The English international has looked stiff and a step off the pace of late, and even at his best he's struggled against Lukaku's size and athleticism. In the state he's in now, Lukaku could have an absolute field day against him.
            Everton injuries and suspensions
            Out: Tyias Browning, Tony Hibbert In doubt: Bryan Oviedo, Gareth Barry, Aaron Lennon, Tom Cleverly
            Chelsea injuries and suspensions
            Out: Kurt Zouma, Radamel Falcao In doubt: Diego Costa, Eden Hazard, John Terry
            Match Date/Time: Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET, 5:30 p.m. local
            Venue: Goodison Park, Liverpool, England
            TV: Fox Sports 2 (U.S. - English), Fox Deportes (U.S. - Spanish), Sportsnet World (Canada)
            Online: Fox Soccer 2 Go, Fox Sports Go (U.S.), Sportsnet World Now (Canada).
             
             
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