Chelsea 1-3 Atletico Madrid: Tactical Analysis

Attacking burden on Hazard

Eden Hazard in action against Atletico

After the game was done and dusted, Eden Hazard has been quoted to have made comments to French media that won’t bode well with Mourinho and the Chelsea fans. “Chelsea are not made to play football, we are good on the counter-attack, a bit like Real against Bayern Munich. Often, I’m asked to do it all by myself and it’s not easy.”

Those were the comments by Hazard and it does make you wonder. The problem with a defensive system is that it requires all players across the pitch to be on the same wavelength, and this might be more difficult for a few and easier for others. Obviously it’s easier to get a defender to play a defensive system, rather than an attack-minded player. It’s fantastic when an attacker can do it as well, showing his adaptability and versatility, but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Which is why Real Madrid’s tactics against Bayern Munich were so well conducted, by all eleven players. Eden Hazard is clearly not meant for a defensive role, and probably won’t ever be that effective at it.

But while he may be deficient in a defensive capacity, the comments he made post-match about the attacking part of the game are true as well. Although Chelsea were not as defensively set up in the 2nd leg as they were in the 1st and against Liverpool at Anfield, they still did rely to an extent on their ability to keep Atletico Madrid from scoring. The attacking burden thus fell on Eden Hazard (and Fernando Torres). While Torres had a good game, compared to the first leg after which this site leveled a fair bit of criticism his way, Hazard was the most active attacking player and looked to create chances more than any of the others on the pitch.

He was often left frustrated, as a result of both the burden on him, and an excellent Atletico Madrid side. While Mourinho’s tactics both against Liverpool and the first leg were effective in this crucial week of Chelsea’s season, the subsequent effect it may possibly have on a few players in the side, may be something to think about. While no player is above the club or the manager, many do intend on playing a certain brand of football that suits them better. Certainly, Eden Hazard’s preference would be to play a more attacking game as opposed to a defensive one.

Where does this leave them?

Few would have expected a Chelsea 1-3 Atletico Madrid scoreline, but Simeone’s men have already experienced one of the best seasons in their history, and this just adds to it. One can hope that they don’t drop any points in the League, which will ensure the La Liga title. The Champions League will be a fitting end to a remarkable campaign. Whatever happens from now to the end of the season, Diego Simeone gets my personal vote for manager of the season, purely for the achievement with these set of players, without having to spend big and competing continuously throughout the season with a small squad, with the same level of commitment and energy.

Chelsea may well finish trophyless this season, which might constitute as a failure compared to their lofty ambitions. But in the past two seasons, Chelsea have either failed to do well in the league as they finished fifth but won the Champions League, or failed to do well in Europe, getting knocked out of the Champions League in the group stage last season while going on to win the second tier European competition. This season though, they have competed well both domestically and in Europe, which could be labelled as progress.