WHY THREE IS NOT SO EASY...

CHELSEA did it, so let’s all have a turn. But it seems playing three at the back is not so easy. The champions had the personnel and a manager who had used it consistently at a previous club, Juventus. He knows the strengths and the weaknesses of the system. But teams who are trying it from time to time and trying to switch systems are finding it less successful. Even very good teams with very good coaches. You can get found out defensively. Your centre backs might not be happy being drawn out wide and into uncomfortable areas, because teams can exploit the space out there by coming in behind your wing backs (Manchester City were struggling with that against Liverpool before the Mane red card) or even if your centre backs stay in the middle, there are three instead of two and one in the middle of the goal, where there might normally be two. It can create grey areas and no little confusion. It’s not an easy system to play.