As featured on NewsNow: Football news

Pochettino happy with flexibility of Chelsea fullbacks

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino outlined his tactical plans for the full-back position.

The Blues have used an inverted full-back on more than one occasion this season.

Asked if he plans to make this a permanent setup for his team, Pochettino told reporters: "It is momentum of the team, the characteristics of the player.

“With an inverted full-back or not, playing with a full-back in the higher pocket, the half-space. What we find is a group of players that feel really well and the team is feeling well. It is not about the names that are going to be on the pitch.

"When you start to evolve and step up, start to work on the priorities, every single possibility to try to do on the pitch in a different tactical work, it is always going to be positive. This type of situation [with the inverted full-back] can help in different ways because we miss some players in that position or to cope with the lack of full-back on the right side because of Malo [Gusto] or Reece [James] or to compensate.

"It is always about our creativity, as coaching staff, like all coaching staff, to try and find the best strategies to help the team do what we want. This type of situation that you want to apply, you need the right attitude, the right balance, the profile of the player, the characteristics.

"When all of this is there, you can try anything and for sure it is going to work. Without all of these, it is always difficult to apply tactics."

Video of the day:

About the author

Ansser Sadiq

×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

  1. Go Ad-Free
  2. Faster site experience
  3. Support great writing
  4. Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free
×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free