How Chelsea would line up under Nagelsmann

Tom Weber

• Updated: 4 Apr 2023 07:57 BST
• 4 min read

Julian Nagelsmann has emerged as one of the favourites to take over at Chelsea, but how would the Blues line up under the former Bayern man?

Having finally sacked Graham Potter after a disastrous six months in charge, Chelsea are set to appoint a new coach. As one of the most high-profile free agents out there, Julian Nagelsmann is already being linked with the Blues, though concrete contact hasn't been made yet and a compensation fee would have to be paid as the German is still technically under contract at Bayern.

Chelsea's two most recent coaches, Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter, were both what you would describe as "project managers," and Nagelsmann would fit that mould as well.

READ: Chelsea dodge world-record pay out after Potter sacked

Nagelsmann's fundamental idea of how he wants his team to play is influenced by the Red Bull school of thought, though he has added his own features and shown himself to be incredibly tactically flexible, even fully departing from a typically direct Red Bull style if necessary. Indeed, Nagelsmann has often preferred a more positional approach with a narrow, almost five-a-side centre which then opens up space for full-backs or wing-backs to exploit.

How would Chelsea line up?

Given that the Premier League is vastly different to the Bundesliga, Nagelsmann would likely have to employ a slightly more conservative approach, which is why we have lined Chelsea up in a 4-3-3.

In Marc Cucurella and Reece James, the German would have two ideal full-backs at his disposal. Why? Because both can play centre-back, which would allow him to shift to a back three in possession, thereby morphing his formation more into the 3-4-2-1 or 3-1-4-2 he used at Bayern towards the end of his time in charge.

The central players would stay compact, with one of the midfielders sitting deeper. Kai Havertz would be eminently involved in the build-up. One of the wingers would stay high, while another could drop back, becoming more of a wing-back.

READ: Chelsea beat Man Utd to €20m signing after Potter sacking

Raheem Sterling seems like a player Nagelsmann would love, whereas recent big-money arrival Mykhaylo Mudryk could be an issue as he would need to be deployed as more of a classic winger, which is not Nagelsmann's preferred approach to wide play.

If Chelsea were to appoint Julian Nagelsmann, they would have to give him time to implement his ideas and the right kind of system players would have to be signed. If not done correctly, the German could be another Potter.