Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca made a surprising tactical decision in their recent match against Manchester City, opting to start right-back Malo Gusto in the left wing-back position instead of the usual choice, Ben Chilwell.
The match ended in a 4-2 defeat for Chelsea, and Maresca’s selection raised a few eyebrows among fans and pundits alike.
Gusto’s Unusual Role at Left Wing-Back
Malo Gusto, naturally a right-back, was deployed on the left side in a high and wide wing-back role, rather than the typical full-back position.
This move was part of Maresca’s experimental setup, as he looked to try out different strategies during pre-season.
Despite being out of position, Gusto was asked to play an advanced role on the left, a spot where Chilwell typically excels due to his attacking threat and experience.
Maresca’s Tactical Explanation
After the game, Maresca was questioned about his decision to pick Gusto over Chilwell. He explained that his choice was influenced by the need to experiment and see different dynamics on the field.
Maresca highlighted that Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was positioned as the left attacking midfielder, and he wanted to balance the attack by utilizing Gusto’s abilities on the left flank.
“The reason why is because in this moment I need to see things. On the ball, Kiernan was in the position he used to play, as the left attacking midfielder.
So we attacked a little bit more with Malo. But as I said, in this moment there are things I need to see for the rest of the season,” Maresca said.
From his response, it appears that Maresca felt Dewsbury-Hall provided enough attacking threat on the left, allowing him to experiment with Gusto’s positioning.
The idea was likely to offer something different, with Gusto’s right-footed play bringing a unique dynamic to the left wing.
Mistakes and City’s Quality Prove Costly for Chelsea
Despite the tactical tweaks, Chelsea struggled against a dominant Manchester City side. Defensive errors and City’s clinical finishing led to the 4-2 defeat.
While Gusto’s performance wasn’t poor, the overall team mistakes overshadowed the individual experiments.
Looking Ahead for Chelsea
Maresca’s decision to experiment in pre-season is understandable as he looks to finalize his tactics for the upcoming season.
However, the result against City might lead him to reconsider his choices, especially when it comes to positioning players in unfamiliar roles.
Ben Chilwell, who thrives in the left wing-back position, could still play a crucial role as the season progresses.
As Chelsea prepare for the new Premier League campaign, fans will be eager to see how Maresca adjusts his tactics and whether the experimentation in pre-season will pay off when the real competition begins.
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