Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca tells his players “every day” to improve at facing low defences in back-five formations after being shocked by Premier League managers this season.
The Italian gave a humorous anecdote involving Ange Postecoglou and said Sunderland’s switch to a back five surprised Chelsea in their defeat on Saturday.
When asked why opponents keep using a back five against his Blues side, Maresca replied: “When we have difficulties, we like to analyse.”
Maresca added Chelsea have beaten back fives against Leicester, Wolves, West Ham and Everton, but recently his side needs to “do better”, explaining: “I’m telling the players every day that, now, teams – probably because of what we achieved last season – have changed their approach against us.
“Sunderland played nine league games and they never used a back five from the start. Never. I watched them all, so we prepared for Sunderland with a back four.
“In the dressing room before the match, I told the players: ‘Guys, throw all of the Sunderland preparation in the bin.’ It’s so difficult to change plan in just 10 minutes.”
He added that a chance meeting with Postecoglou highlighted the issue: “Before Ange took over at Nottingham Forest, we spoke at the LMA awards in London.
“I said: ‘Ange, I’ve never seen your team use a back five – except for the last 10 minutes of the Europa League final against Manchester United.
“He laughed and said: ‘I hate using a back five, but, as it was the last 10 minutes and we needed to win the trophy, we did.’ Then we played Forest – it was a back five, and I had prepared for a back four!
“I again told the team that everything goes straight in the bin because it was a back five. This is tough for players.”Chelsea legend Eden Hazard has been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.
He is the 26th player to be added and has been selected alongside Gary Neville as the two former players selected for induction this year by the 24 existing Hall of Fame members.
Hazard was named the Premier League’s player of the season in 2014-15 and was also the club’s player of the season four times during seven years at Stamford Bridge.
He won the Premier League twice, scoring 85 times and registering 54 assists in 245 appearances in the division between 2012 and 2019.
“It means a lot to join the Premier League Hall of Fame,” Hazard said on his induction. “I’m very proud to join this group of players and I think we could make a good squad!
“I grew up playing football for fun, with my brothers in the back garden, but my dream was always to play at the highest level.
“I just wanted to have fun on the pitch and entertain the fans who bought tickets or watched on TV. Being recognised in this way is special for me and my family. My parents were both footballers and now my children love the game too.”
Jose Mourinho, who was Chelsea manager when Hazard won his first title in 2014-15, added: “Everybody knows that you belong there. You are one of the most amazing players that I ever worked with and of course you have to be there.
“You are in the Hall of Fame so now you stay in our memories – and by the way thank you so much for helping to win my last Premier League title!”Both clubs have rung the changes for the Carabao Cup by making 11 (Wolves) and 10 (Chelsea) changes respectively.
Under pressure Wolves manager Vitor Pereira has used the full reserves of his squad but it has served him well in this competition, with two wins against Premier League opposition to reach this stage.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, meanwhile, has only kept exciting academy defender Josh Acheampong in his starting XI with Liam Delap back from a hamstring injury to make the bench.
