Enzo Maresca has introduced a tactical shift at Chelsea, using Marc Cucurella as an advanced sixth attacker against defensive teams. While effective in breaking down low blocks, this strategy comes with defensive risks, making it a situational weapon rather than a permanent system.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has been forced to adjust his tactics against defensive teams deploying a five-man backline, such as Leicester and Copenhagen. His solution has been to push Marc Cucurella higher up the pitch, creating a "line of six" in attack to restore Chelsea’s numerical superiority.
While Cucurella’s attacking runs have proven effective—he has scored four Premier League goals this season—this approach exposes Chelsea defensively, as seen in their loss to Ipswich Town. The system has worked well in select matches but remains a high-risk strategy, only viable against teams lacking the speed and precision to exploit Chelsea’s vulnerabilities in transition.
