Understanding Chelsea’s Struggles Under Graham Potter: Tactical Analysis and Solutions
After his heavy defeat to former club Brighton at the end of October, Graham Potter’s tenure at Chelsea has been beset by seven losses in eleven matches. While injuries have certainly contributed to the team’s inconsistency, Chelsea’s problems run deeper than just unavailable players. Despite an expensive and talented squad, issues around tactical identity, balance, and roles persist. This detailed analysis explores what’s behind Chelsea’s difficulties under Potter, examining key tactical shortcomings and offering practical steps for improvement.
Searching for Team Cohesion: The Consistency Problem
A defining characteristic of Graham Potter’s coaching career has been frequent rotation—both of players and tactical systems. Since arriving at Chelsea, this trait has led to an unsettled lineup, with little continuity from match to match. Unlike his predecessor Thomas Tuchel, who rapidly installed a clear 3-2-5 attacking structure that became a 5-2-3 when defending, Potter’s Chelsea often lack both a consistent starting eleven and a recognizable style.
Players appear unsure of their specific responsibilities, resulting in overlaps and confusion—particularly in the advanced midfield roles. Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, and others frequently find themselves competing for the same spaces, hindering both creativity and attacking threat. Without a structured foundation, free movement has too often led to positional disorganization rather than tactical flexibility.
Defensive Instability: Causes and Key Weaknesses
Chelsea’s defensive form following the loss to Brighton has been worrying, conceding 19 goals in a stretch of just 12 games. This cannot solely be blamed on system or rest-defense plans. Personnel decisions and individual performances are just as culpable.
Kalidou Koulibaly, recruited as a defensive leader, has experienced major adaptation issues to the Premier League. His tendency to aggressively step out of the defensive line creates open spaces for opponents, often leaving the team exposed and committing unnecessary fouls—a pattern that has persisted since the start of the season. The new arrival Benoît Badiashile could prove valuable, offering a calmer, more positionally disciplined option alongside Thiago Silva.
Additionally, absences of key full-backs Reece James and Ben Chilwell have disrupted defensive continuity. While stand-ins like Marc Cucurella and Cesar Azpilicueta bring experience, neither is at their best, contributing further to the defensive frailties. Even with rotating goalkeepers—Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy—there remains debate about who truly instills confidence in the back line.
Midfield Dynamics: Overlapping Roles and Lack of Balance
Balance in the midfield has proven elusive for Potter, largely due to overlapping attributes among his central options. Conor Gallagher thrives as a forward-driving midfielder, making late runs and pressing aggressively, which leaves gaps in defensive coverage when paired alongside Jorginho. However, Mason Mount offers similar characteristics, creating redundancy and limiting opportunities for both to excel simultaneously.
Adding creative options like Hakim Ziyech—who prefers to operate inside from the right—crowds the same half-spaces, reducing passing options and stifling layered movement. Furthermore, Chelsea keenly feel the absence of Raheem Sterling’s pace and directness in wide areas. Without him, the onus is on Potter to find a functional arrangement among Mount, Gallagher, and Ziyech that maximizes each player’s unique strengths without overwhelming the midfield.
A targeted solution would see Gallagher deployed centrally as a number 10, with Mount shifted wide, resembling the effective roles seen under Tuchel in the 3-4-2-1 shape. This adjustment would preserve Gallagher’s running power and allow Mount to contribute from the left, restoring balance without sacrificing forward drive or creativity.
Kai Havertz’s Role: Maximizing Output in Attack
One of the more persistent questions in Chelsea’s attacking play is the optimal use of Kai Havertz. While capable as a ‘false nine’ linking play, he’s often tasked with roaming into wider areas to build attacks, leaving the penalty box under-occupied at critical moments. The team’s most promising phases, such as the recent victory over Crystal Palace, have come when using Havertz as a traditional central target forward—leveraging his aerial threat and physicality inside the box.
Rather than restricting Havertz’s involvement as a creative link, emphasizing a more classic ‘target man’ function would put him in the right spots to convert chances from crosses and create second-ball opportunities for advanced midfielders. Such a system could also create more space for wingers and overlapping full-backs, while clearly defining each player’s area of influence.
Strategic Recommendations for Turning the Tide
For Graham Potter to address Chelsea’s tactical and structural problems, the following steps are crucial:
– Establish a consistent starting lineup, minimizing excessive rotation in both personnel and tactics.
– Set clear, reliable player roles, particularly in key midfield and attacking positions, to reduce overlaps and confusion.
– Implement a more disciplined defensive partnership, with Badiashile partnered alongside a leader like Thiago Silva.
– Maximize Gallagher’s strengths by playing him centrally, while giving Mount freedom from the left flank.
– Utilize Havertz as a central target forward to capitalize on his finishing and hold-up play.
– Maintain compactness in defensive transitions, especially when starting attacking-minded players in central areas.
By focusing on squad balance, clarity of roles, and tactical discipline, Chelsea can re-establish the defensive solidity and attacking flow seen during previous successful stretches. Achieving this synthesis will not only halt the run of poor results but can also set a foundation for future progress under Graham Potter.
Conclusion
Though Chelsea’s recent form under Graham Potter has been disappointing, a careful evaluation of tactical imbalances and better deployment of key players can catalyze improvement. By resolving issues around defensive pairing, midfield roles, and usage of attacking talent like Kai Havertz, Potter has an opportunity to bring much-needed structure and direction to this talented squad. With renewed focus and the right adjustments, Chelsea still have the potential to reverse their fortunes and perform to expectations in the second half of the season.
