THREAD: Why Azpilicueta seemed to struggle at RWB vs Real Madrid.

& Why it wasn’t necessarily his fault.

(Real Madrid vs Chelsea 1st Leg tactical analysis)

Yesterday, both Chelsea & Madrid matched each other’s system, each implementing a 3-5-2 as such:

Much like vs Man City, if Madrid opted to build their play from the center,

we would’ve pressed them as follows:

1) Our 3 CMs and 2 STs (in the red circle) would’ve ferociously pressed and cut all possible passing lanes through the center.

2) This would force Madrid’s CBs to play passes out wide to their advanced wingbacks, instead of playing through the center.

However, this creates an easy job for our wingbacks to quickly closedown the opposition’s wingbacks upon receiving the ball (yellow circles)

In other words, if Madrid used solely overlapping wingbacks, they would’ve:

1) been stuck in a constant cycle of repeated back/sideways passing

&

2) end up constantly losing the ball in dangerous areas (thus, making themselves vulnerable for counter attacks.)

Instead, Zidane implemented a very smart tactic, which would break this potential cycle, with:

• Kroos dropping into LCB positions

• Nacho roaming into LWB positions

&

• Marcelo getting into inverted LCM positions (thus, creating space for Vinicius to drop in as a wide LM)

With Kroos at LCB (becoming the main person play was being built through)

Kante was forced to join our 2 STs to form a pressing front 3, as such (in efforts to stop Kroos from having the freedom to pick out nearby passes)

This left us with a “pressing shape” of 2 CMs and a front 3, as such (black circles):

Which unfortunately left Azpi in a constant dilemma where he had to pick between closing down either, Marcelo or Vinicius (red circle). A lose-lose situation.

Very often, with Azpi having one eye on Vinicius and another on Marcelo, it resulted in Vinicius being allowed the space to run in behind at RM positions as such:

However, fortunately, Christensen had the pace/solidity to stop Vinicius and make him ineffective.

I think this is one of the main reasons why Christensen started at RCB today (along with his aerial ability),

as Christensen possessed more pace to challenge Vinicius shoulder to shoulder, as opposed to Azpi.

However, while it did look as if Azpi got ran over, that’s partially due to the crucial role Azpi played in our counter pressing today (together with the rest of our players)

An aspect of our game today that made us so dominant vs Real Madrid. So kudos to that!

Furthermore, Azpi’s defensive discipline to stay alongside J5, allowed Kante the license to get forward and make those driving runs at Real Madrid. (Which ended up being a crucial part of our attack.)

So, while it did look like Azpi was tired and he lost his legs coming to the end, we must also be thankful for how much effort our captain put in yesterday! And how crucial he was to the way we played.

Could RJ have played just as well at RWB or even better? There is a good argument for that.

However, in a UCL semi final, there is no way that we leave out our club captain. No way.

With that, thank you for reading another one of my threads!

This one was short and simple compared to my others, however, that’s simply because, not every week there is going to be mind blowing tactical changes lol.

Be sure to follow, RT & Like for more bi-weekly tactical threads like this!

I have another thread coming out soon on our counter pressing as a team (in different phases of the game). Let me know if you all would like to see that thread!