Ancelotti tactics are just diamond: Ballack defends Ancelotti's system

17 August 2009 14:04
Chelsea's new diamond formation will come under further scrutiny against Sunderland tomorrow night but Germany captain Michael Ballack insists it is up to the players to make it work.   New coach Carlo Ancelotti has abandoned the use of wingers and replaced them with two strikers and a midfield diamond that struggled to get the better of Hull in their opening game at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.   Chelsea won 2-1 thanks to a late strike by Didier Drogba but at times the space afforded them by Ancelotti's midfield was exploited to the full by Phil Brown's side.    The system works superbly when going forward but if the midfield four are not tracking back when possession is lost, it leaves yawning gaps for the opposition to exploit.  Ballack was a half-time substitute for John Obi Mikel as Ancelotti looked for more aggression in the second half.  Now the midfielder is hoping for a place in the starting line-up against Steve Bruce's side at the Stadium of Light and he remains convinced the system can work.   'Everybody is a little bit expectant about what we can achieve this year,' said Ballack.   'We have a new manager and we play a new system.   'We played it under Jose Mourinho when I arrived and it feels different not to play with wingers and to play with two strikers.   'So tactically things will be different for us but it depends how you implement it, by which I mean you can play any system with good players and they have to show their ability. 'It is not about the system, it is about how individuals perform on the pitch and whether they do the right things, so it is not as simple as just picking a system.  'In a diamond your attention is more on controlling the play, you have more ball in midfield and one more man there as well.  'So you gain a small advantage through the centre but there's more hard work for the four midfielders because they have a lot of work to do on and off the ball in this system.   'But there are many ways to win, there's not just one way to play football and you can have success with any system if you play it right.  'It is not all about the system we play, that's just a new thing for us that we have to adapt to.' Coach Ancelotti is pleased with the response from his squad and the way they are getting used to his diamond system. Their quality has prevented him from adding a 'marquee signing' to his squad as yet.   The Italian remains adamant that unless a top player becomes available at the right price, the current squad has enough ability to be successful this season.  'I have seen them playing in the system we want to use and I have options with so many great players to choose from,' said Ancelotti.   'We have not had to spend lots and bring in many new players because we are happy with our squad.' Chelsea are unlikely to have any of their injured contingent back in time for the trip to Sunderland.   Juliano Belletti (Achilles), Alex (groin) and new signing Yuri Zhirkov (knee) are almost certain to miss out. Joe Cole and Paulo Ferreira are also sidelined with knee injuries. 

Source: Daily_Mail