FA Cup: 3 ways Manchester City can engineer Chelsea revenge

3. Play One Up Front?

A feature of City’s play this season has been their strike partnership of Alvaro Negredo and Sergio Aguero. However Pellegrini may be tempted to alter his shape for the visit of Chelsea. Finding room for both men is important in the long term, but pragmatically Pellegrini should change it tomorrow. Aguero is injured, whilst Negredo appears to be feeling the effects of the shoulder injury picked up at West Ham.

Chelsea’s Midfield & Defence Crowded Dzeko and Negredo Out In The Last Fixture By Getting Men Deep and Behind The Ball

The lack of fitness and form of the strikers, combined with Chelsea’s tactics in the last game, make one up front a logical step. It would allow Silva to roam without having to think about his defensive roles and add numbers to central midfield areas. Last time out, Chelsea successfully snuffed out City’s strike duo by crowding them out in central areas through use of two deep holding players in front of the back four.

City Action Areas v Chelsea

City created little with their rigid fixation with central areas and could achieve a more balanced side with a five man midfield. Silva’s movement could draw Chelsea’s players away from the positions in which they were so comfortable two weeks ago. City are not likely to get any joy by getting their forwards in behind Chelsea given the deep line Mourinho employed last time, meaning that a five man midfield may have more impact.

Should Chelsea Play One Up Front Then Dzeko Could Be The Logical Choice