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Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti must revert to 4-3-3 to keep the Champions league dream alive

Carlo Ancelotti is faced with a great opportunity on Saturday. If he takes it, he might have to answer some awkward questions from Roman Abramovich.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti must revert to 4-3-3 to keep the Champions League dream alive

Change for the worse: Carlo Ancelotti substituted Didier Drogba instead of Fernando Torres Photo: PA

Alan Smith

By Alan Smith 11:00PM BST 08 Apr 2011

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But, at the same time, he would give his Chelsea team a much better chance of overturning Manchester United’s 1-0 lead from the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final.

In short, it’s time to revert to 4-3-3, the tried and trusted shape that accrued three Premier League titles and made Chelsea such a force in Europe. It’s what the players know, what suits them best, as opposed to 4-4-2 which clearly doesn’t. Further confirmation was offered in that home leg. Time for a change before it’s too late.

And the visit of Wigan, with all due respect, offers the perfect dry run ahead of next Tuesday. Ancelotti should therefore go with his instincts, which must surely be screaming for a rethink.

The Italian has to know, after all, that switching the system to accommodate Fernando Torres simply hasn’t worked.

For a start, the £50 million signing, in failing to get off the mark, has looked a shadow of the player who once excelled for Liverpool. He’s trying hard enough, but it just isn’t happening.

Then there’s the knock-on effect of playing four across midfield. Apart from the fact Chelsea lack proper wide men, Frank Lampard’s game in the middle has been badly affected. As part of a two rather than a three, the midfielder can’t get forward nearly as much. Added defensive responsibilities leave him reluctant to make too many forward runs. And when he does, the two strikers inevitably cut down his space in the box.

The end result is a system that suits no one, least of all Ancelotti, who found himself substituting Didier Drogba the other night when Torres clearly deserved to be hooked. It was impossible not to conclude that the decision was influenced by money rather than form, by the wishes of Abramovich over Ancelotti.

Yet the former AC Milan manager could lose his job anyway if he doesn’t deliver the Champions League. He might as well, therefore, pick the team he wants and the formation that won him the Double last year.

The advantages are clear. When Chelsea get the ball, the two full-backs can provide the attacking width more freely, knowing the holding midfielder has stayed deep in front of the centre-halves. Lampard, in turn, can also bomb on, with a chance of finding more space around the lone striker.

This might even be a way of getting more out of Torres. If Ancelotti picked him today and he managed to score, the Spaniard would join Drogba as an option for Old Trafford.

One thing seems clear: it’s time for Ancelotti to bite the bullet by making the change, otherwise Chelsea look set for more Champions League heartache.

GIVE REDKNAPP A BREAK

What is it with Tottenham fans? Why do so many not warm to Harry Redknapp, the man responsible for securing Champions League football before steering the team to the quarter-finals?

I’ve even heard criticism of Redknapp’s tactical acumen with reference to the way he handled Tuesday’s setbacks at Real Madrid. Harsh to say the least. Ignorant really.

Of course it’s important to finish in the top four again, hence the tension surrounding today’s match with Stoke. But Harry is right. Manchester City finished three points behind Spurs last year before spending zillions to bridge the gap.

They’re entitled to make life difficult. And so it’s proved.

Yet Spurs still have a fighting chance with eight games left. What the manager needs now is unwavering support, not backbiting from fans who have rarely had it so good.

BARTON NEEDS TO WISE UP

Joey Barton needs to realise something. In this game, you don’t get anywhere by publicly slagging off rivals. You do it by consistently excelling on the pitch. No point, therefore, in him hammering Gareth Barry, or describing Frank Lampard as “on the way down” and Jack Wilshere as only “not bad”.

If Barton really wants to play for England, he’ll have to step up his game. Because as well as he’s played at times for Newcastle this season, the outspoken 28 year-old still has much to do.

On the plus side, he’s standing in for Kevin Nolan as captain for Sunday’s trip to Aston Villa. Having talked a good game this week, it will be interesting to see if he can play one.

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