Chelsea's recent 4-2 defeat at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers has reportedly led manager Mauricio Pochettino to consider a significant tactical shift. The Blues, who have slipped to the bottom half of the Premier League table, are now in a precarious position as they grapple with consecutive heavy losses.
Chelsea's performance this season has been less than stellar, with the team suffering back-to-back heavy defeats. A crushing 4-1 loss against Liverpool was followed by an equally disheartening result against Wolves. These setbacks have pushed Chelsea down to 11th place in the Premier League table, just one spot above their final standing last season.
The most recent match saw Matheus Cunha score a hat-trick past Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic. Adding insult to injury were two unfortunate deflections and a cheaply conceded penalty that handed Wolves an overwhelming advantage.
Pochettino needs to make urgent tactical changes
In light of these developments, reports suggest that Pochettino is contemplating switching to a back three formation in hopes of stemming the tide of embarrassing goals against his team. So far this season, Chelsea has let in 39 goals - one more than they've managed to score themselves.
Historically speaking, adopting a three-at-the-back formation has proven successful for Chelsea during challenging times. Antonio Conte implemented this strategy during their league-winning run in 2017 while Thomas Tuchel used it en route their UEFA Champions League victory in 2021.
Player haven’t been able to smoothly adapt to Pochettino's system
Despite their struggles on the league front, it hasn't been all doom and gloom for Pochettino's side this season. Out of their total 23 league games played so far; they've won nine, drawn four, and lost ten.
Moreover, Chelsea has managed to secure a spot in the Carabao Cup final and is set to face Aston Villa for a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Wednesday, February 7.
As Chelsea navigates through this challenging period, Pochettino's potential tactical switch could be instrumental in turning their fortunes around. With key matches coming up and a chance at silverware still within reach, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact Chelsea's performance moving forward.
