Zinedine Zidane: How Chelsea could line-up next season if former Real Madrid boss replaces Maurizio Sarri

Zinedine Zidane: How Chelsea could line-up next season if former Real Madrid boss replaces Maurizio Sarri
Maurizio Sarri is under immense pressure at Chelsea only eight months into the job and could find himself replaced by Zinedine Zidane.The former Real Madrid manager has been out of work since leaving the club in May following a third consecutive Champions League final win and this has appealed to the Blues hierarchy who believe he can have the same impact at Stamford Bridge.5

How would Zidane have Chelsea line-up?

His odds have been cut from 14/1 into as short as 13/8, making him the clear favourite for the job.Chelsea suffered a humiliating 6-0 defeat to Manchester City last Sunday, and Thursday night’s 2-1 victory over Malmo in Sweden was their first away victory in 2019.The French World Cup winner is said to be keen on a move to the Premier League and it could help Chelsea persuade Eden Hazard that his future lies with the club, such is his admiration for the ex-midfielder.Should Zidane take over and Hazard remain, here is how Chelsea could line-up next season.

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Flat 4-4-2

A formation Zidane used frequently during his final season in Spain and matches against Real Sociedad and Sevilla in which Real Madrid scored five times are testament to how well it can work. It was also used in the round of 16 tie against Paris-Saint Germain en route to his third European success and Los Blancos came from behind to win the first-leg 3-1.This formation is rarely deployed in the Premier League with sides preferring to operate with a lone striker, supported by a number 10 and pacy wingers.5

Emerson would offer an attacking threat from the left

Should Chelsea make the signing of Gonzalo Higuain permanent he would operate either alongside Hazard or have a target-man in the form of Olivier Giroud, similar to how Karim Bemzema was used for Cristiano Ronaldo.Hazard would occupy his favoured role on the left side of midfield, allowing him to cut in onto his right. Zidane would appreciate the attacking flair of 60million signing Christian Pulisic, as well as academy star Callum Hudson-Odoi, while Willian and Pedro would be rotated into the side.N’Golo Kante would return to a more familiar central role and protect the defence. Emerson would probably be favoured over Marcos Alonso due to his pace and shares attacking instincts similar to fellow Brazilian Marcelo.5

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Narrow 4-3-3

Chelsea already operate a 4-3-3 under Sarri and Jorginho is used in the role of conductor, sitting centrally in front of the back four, he dictates play with quick passes, but has been found out when put under pressure and defensively offers little protection. Kante would return to defensive midfielder where he is rightly considered the best in that position and Jorginho would be shifted out wide, like Toni Kroos was at Real Madrid.The full-backs would be more attacking and would help support the wingers, especially during a counter attack.5

N’Golo Kante would return to a defensive role

The third position in midfield would likely be taken by someone more attack-minded. Zidane knows Mateo Kovacic well from their time together in Madrid, but he is not the best going forward, as proven by his goal record of two in the past three seasons. Ross Barkley has been indifferent this campaign, but offers more in the final third, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek is probably the most exciting midfielder at Chelsea’s disposal and his powerful runs and ability on the ball are weapons that have been used sparingly for far too long under Sarri.Hazard and Pulisic would play out wide, leaving one central striker either Higuain or possibly a summer target.This is also the formation used by Zidane for much of his time in charge and was his set-up in all three Champions League final successes.5

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Expect Jorginho and N'Golo Kante to start, but who completes the midfield trio is always a guessing game as it could be any one of Mateo Kovacic, Ross Barkley or Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Given Sarri did hint at resting one or two, that could mean a start for Kovacic or Loftus-Cheek.
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