Nkunku in, Mudryk out: How Chelsea will line up under Luis Enrique

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 5 Apr 2023 13:19 BST
• 3 min read

Luis Enrique is currently in London to interview for the vacant Chelsea managerial job.

He is considered second favourite for the role after former Bayern Munich boss Julian Naglemsmann, but remains very much in the race.

The Chelsea post is available after Graham Potter was sacked on Sunday evening.

READ MORE: How much does it cost Chelsea to sack Graham Potter?

Potter was given the chop after the Blues lost 2-0 at home to Aston Villa on Saturday.

The Englishman had a disastrous time of things after replacing Thomas Tuchel as manager in September.

Chelsea find themselves down in 11th position in the Premier League, 11 points off Champions League qualification with just nine games to go.

The Blues hope to appoint a manager before they play Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League next week.

Should Luis Enrique get the job, he will be expected to use his favoured 4-3-3 formation.

This is the system that the 52-year-old utilised during the peak of his managerial career when he led Barcelona to the treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League in 2015.

Chelsea formation under Luis Enrique

Chelsea will likely to search for a new goalkeeper but Luis Enrique prefers a number one who is good with his feet, so Edouard Mendy could get the nod ahead of Kepa in the meantime. But Mendy's terrible form over the last year means Kepa may yet start.

In defence, Reece James and Ben Chilwell pick themselves at full back, while Thiago Silva (if he stays) and one of Wesley Fofana or Benoit Badiashile will start at centre back.

In midfield, Luis Enrique is known for appreciating ball-retaining midfielders who excel with their short passing game, and can also win the ball back quickly.

From Chelsea’s current crop of central midfielders, Enzo Fernandez and Mateo Kovacic (if he stays) will be much appreciated by the Spaniard. N’Golo Kante could play the role that Koke did for the Spain national team, the hard-working member of the midfield.

In attack, Luis Enrique won’t have a Neymar-Suarez-Messi trident, of course.

Chelsea will likely go into the market for a top-class number nine. But until they do, Kai Havertz could be utilised as a false nine - a role Luis Enrique has used in the past.

We can expect Christopher Nkunku and Raheem Sterling as the wide players, two players that Luis Enrique should appreciate for their technique and ability to play a short game.

One player who may not be suited to Luis Enrique's team is Mykhailo Mudryk given that his sides dominate ball possession and don't play too much of a direct, counter-attacking game - which suits the Ukrainian's attributes more.