Talking Tactics: 3 Ways Mourinho Exploited Man City’s Creative Machine

At certain stages of the season, throughout every league in the world, there are particular fixtures that play a major part in defining and shaping the ambitions of title contenders, as well as those struggling to remain in the division, stranded at the foot of the table. For some, victory means safety; another season secured in the top-flight, reaping the financial rewards that come with such esteemed status.

For other, more reputable sides, victory seizes points from rivals in a show of force and superiority, inspiring confidence throughout the team and guiding them to greatness.

In fact, come May, when the final round of fixtures are played, three points can mean finishing the season full of pride, raising silverware to an excited and passionate crowd of loyal supporters. While for other, less fortunate managers, the final whistle simply means acknowledging defeat, trudging away with P45 form in hand.

On Monday night, a potentially season-defining match was played out between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium. A fixture featuring two talent-laden sides, battling for their rightful place at the top of the Premier League. A fixture that contained a number of tactical facets deserving of scrutiny.

Chelsea’s Brave, Advanced Right Full-Back

José Mourinho is a strict and meticulous manager. A manager who experiments with creativity and imagination throughout the final third, but not before making sure that the defensive structure is carefully in place. It is for this reason that Mourinho rarely instructs Petr ?ech to play out from the back. Quick throws happen on occasion in order to spring counter-attacks, granted, but as a general rule Chelsea have a manager who prioritises safety first.

In doing so, goal kicks are aimed towards the attacking players, minimising the chance of mistakes occurring from any of the back four – especially if David Luiz happens to be playing in the heart of central defence.

Ivanovic duels with Kolarov as Chelsea form a back three.

As such, throughout most of the season, following Mourinho’s development of the strategy, Branislav Ivanovi? has taken on the responsibility of being the primary target from goal kicks, positioning himself high up the field against smaller full-backs of inferior physical stature. In the example above, Chelsea’s domineering full-back can be seen competing for the ball against Aleksandar Kolarov, who he knows only too well from his time with the Serbia national team.

Ramires darts into space in anticipation of Ivanovic winning the header.

Time and time again throughout the first-half, Ivanovi? tussled with his compatriot, winning a plethora of aerial duels that released Ramires as the Brazilian darted into the vacant space down the right channel.

Due to Kolarov leaving his defensive position to deal with the threat, Ramires could position himself on the touchline, dragging Matija Nastasi? (yet another Serbian) wide. In doing so, holes were automatically created throughout Man City’s defence from every goal kick and deep free-kick. A simple strategy from the most basic of origins, but one that gave Mourinho the upper hand early on.

But of course, Ivanovi?’s impact on the game would be far greater than simply winning his fair share of aerial duels.

Controlling City’s Creative Spaniard

Kolarov may have been dominated by Ivanovi? in the air, however his adventurous runs forward, as David Silva drifted inside, caused Chelsea all sorts of problems early on. Indeed, most of Man City’s early pressure resulted from Kolarov surging towards the byline and whipping pinpoint crosses to the six-yard box, aiming towards the likes of Yaya Touré galloping from deep.

Kolarov was City’s most dangerous player throughout first-half.

Manuel Pellegrini has always appreciated the use of attacking full-backs providing an extra layer of width throughout the attacking third – during his spell as Villarreal coach, he instructed Joan Capdevila to overlap Cani down the left flank – so having a creative, roaming player in the mould of Silva, allows for this simple tactical instruction to be executed with consummate ease.

The Spanish playmaker’s movement is carefully implemented into Pellegrini’s transposable system, in order to maintain balance throughout every zone.

Silva’s roaming forces Negredo to provide width.

When the ball is in transition from defence to attack – around the halfway line, as City probe forward – Silva drifts inside while Kolarov positions himself level with the deep-lying holding midfielders. Álvaro Negredo moves to the far left touchline (see above), fully aware that his strike partner – Edin Džeko in this instance – is occupying the opposition centre-backs. As the transition moves to an advanced attacking stage, Jesús Navas remains down the right as a natural winger, Touré joins Silva behind the two strikers, and Kolarov provides width on the far left touchline.

Chelsea players, each with a specific job.

However, Pellegrini’s flexible and fluid 4-4-2 formation can come unstuck if opposition managers are brave enough to disrupt their own shape.

Mourinho, fully aware of Silva’s creative competence in the hole behind the strikers, instructed Luiz to carry out a man marking job on the tricky Spaniard, harassing and kicking his shins at every opportunity. Luiz’s job was simple: to push Silva further from Chelsea’s goal, even going as far as to track his movement deep into opposition territory.

Luiz man marking Silva.

The above image serves as an example of Luiz’s strict man marking. And as we roll the match forward five seconds (see below), Chelsea’s adventurous Brazilian has followed Silva’s run to the opposite side of the centre circle.

Luiz followed Silva everywhere, forcing him away from goal.

In truth, one has to point out that the days of specific man marking – following an opposing player around the pitch at all costs throughout an entire match – are gone. But in this instance, I guess you could call Mourinho’s tactical instruction an example of extremely tight zonal marking.

Chelsea’s wingers also follow the same guidelines, tracking opposing players running from deep which in turn allows the centre-backs and full-backs to squeeze together as one unit, forming a protective barrier in front of ?ech so to minimise the risk of clever through balls reaching the attackers.

With Luiz tracking Silva, Ramires keeping tabs on the movement of Kolarov, Eden Hazard mirroring Navas, and Ivanovi? and César Azpilicueta moving closer to Gary Cahil and John Terry, Chelsea’s formation morphed into the shape below – a structure that can be seen from Chelsea in each and every fixture.

Chelsea’s defensive shape, with Luiz harassing Silva.

Exploiting City’s Creative Hub

As mentioned, Silva is an advanced playmaker, capable of causing damage from central positions as he drifts inside off the touchline. This is no doubt problematic for a great number of teams – since the start of last season, he’s created a total of 158 goalscoring chances – however his creative and roaming tendencies hold a tactical fragility: his reluctance to track back, thus exposing the left full-back (see below).

A weakness that ultimately proved to be Man City’s and Pellegrini’s downfall.

First sign of Ivanovic exploiting space.

Ivanovi? pushed high up field alongside Ramires, often appearing as a pair of wingers on the same side, in an effort to double-team Kolarov who was frequently unprotected. And as 32 minutes approached, Chelsea’s 29-year-old full-back moved forward into space unattended – Silva had ventured to the right at this stage to get away from the bothersome Luiz – to score the winning goal, and claim a vital three points.

Silva is nowhere to be seen as Ivanovic breaks forward to score.

Effectively, Chelsea’s entire game plan for the clash with their title rivals revolved around Silva. How to track his movement. How to push him further away from Cech. And how to exploit his weakness.

A fine-tuned strategy that helped clinch victory.