Mauricio Pochettino enjoyed first success against Chelsea with three central defenders and United’s win will have clarified the Tottenham manager’s thinking
Chelsea were poor against Manchester United, very poor. That for the first time in a decade they did not manage a shot on target is damning. And it is true that they have not of late been playing with the relentlessness they did through the final three months of last year. But the idea they were somehow been found out on Sunday seems weirdly exaggerated. The title race may be on again but Chelsea have a lead of four points over Tottenham, whatever psychological pressure Spurs may be able to apply in Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final.
In terms of shape, Chelsea have had two major strengths since making the switch to 3-4-2-1 after the defeat to Arsenal in their sixth Premier League game of the season. The back three, shielded by N’Golo Kanté and Nemanja Matic, have presented a solid block and has allowed David Luiz to utilise his greatest assets, his strength and passing ability, without exposing his biggest weakness, his positional sense.
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