Chelsea tactic and team guide for Football Manager 2021. Club vision, tactic, key players, youth prospects and transfers in FM21.
Chelsea tactic and team guide for Football Manager 2021. Club vision, the tactic, key players, youth prospects and transfers in FM21.
Here is a brief analysis of the Chelsea squad, their club structure, relationship any potential managers will have with the board, expectations and possible tactics any FM manager can use.
About Chelsea
Firstly, Chelsea are a champion side with very high expectations and ambitions. They are the only English team to have won the English
Premier League, UEFA Champions League and the Europa League in the last
decade.
With dominance come expectations and the Chelsea board and owner expect big things from any manager. In all previous versions of FM as with real life,
the owner of Chelsea, Roman Abramovich is a passionate owner who is not
afraid to pump in money to the club but expects big returns. His volatile
and trigger happy nature means that if you have a slow start to your
managerial career you run the risk of being sacked.
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Chelsea is also in the Champions League this season, so the minimum requirements from the board are,
1. A top 4 league finish (automatic qualification to the champions league)
2. Reach the Semi-final of the Champion’s league.
3. Reach the final of the FA Cup.
4. Challenge for a domestic cup.
Additionally, the board requires you to play attacking possession-based football, sign high reputation players, sign players under 23 for the club’s future and develop youngsters using the club’s academy.
The club are also blessed with excellent training facilities and an excellent youth setup that churns out league ready players every season.
Board Requirements
Chelsea is also in the Champions League this season, so the minimum requirements from the board are,
1. A top 4 league finish (automatic qualification to the champions league)
2. Reach the Semi-final of the Champion’s league.
3. Reach the final of the FA Cup.
4. Challenge for a domestic cup.
Additionally, the board requires you to play attacking possession-based football, sign high reputation players, sign players under 23 for the club’s future and develop youngsters using the club’s academy.
The club are also blessed with excellent training facilities and an excellent youth setup that churns out league ready players every season.
There is a lot of room for development with the stadium too as it
has comparatively a small capacity for the club of the stature of Chelsea.
Chelsea have had a big transfer window and have acquired the services of several key players.
There are quite a few tactical setups you could deploy with Chelsea. However, the best-suited ones will be a gegenpress or a vertical tiki-taka. This should provide the fast-paced attacking football the board demands and could make use of all the fine attacking talent at your disposal.
Squad, Formation and Tactical Style
Chelsea have had a big transfer window and have acquired the services of several key players.
There are quite a few tactical setups you could deploy with Chelsea. However, the best-suited ones will be a gegenpress or a vertical tiki-taka. This should provide the fast-paced attacking football the board demands and could make use of all the fine attacking talent at your disposal.
However, against quality attacks or challenging away games, one could go with a
fluid counter attack or wing play.
A 4-3-3 DM or a 4-2-3-1 could be the best-suited formation for the available squad and your selected tactic. Alternatively, a 3-5-1-1 or a 5-3-2 could be useful against tougher opposition.
A rough example of what your line-up would look like in a 4-2-3-1 formation is as follows,
Edouard Mendy as a sweeper-keeper
Azpilicueta as a Right Back & new signing Ben Chilwell as the left-back in a wing-back role.
Kurt Zouma & Thiago Silva as the 2 ball-playing centre backs.
Kante as the ball-winning midfielder & Kovacic as the deep-lying playmaker in support duty.
Hakim Ziyech as the right winder in an inverted winger role and Timo Werner as a left-winger in an inside forward role.
Kai Havertz in an attacking playmaker role.
Tammy Abraham as a lone striker in an Advanced Forward or as a Pressing forward role.
Alternatively, when you change to a 433, you can use Mason Mount as a B2B midfielder and play Pulisic on the left moving Werner to a central striker role.
Kante is probably one of the best central midfielders in the world and in the game too. He has a very high interception and tackle rating making him the perfect player to win you balls with a press.
The German marksman is lethal in front of goal and is extremely pacy, making him a nightmare for defenders to mark. He also happens to be extremely versatile and can comfortably slot in on the left-wing or as a striker.
Another new signing, the Moroccan wizard creates plenty of opportunities for strikers to attack. He is also extremely deadly from set-piece situations and will drop deep making it very hard for the defenders to keep track of his movements.
Kovacic was the player of the year at Chelsea in the 2019-2020 season. The playmaker is extremely versatile and can play multiple roles in midfield to good effect. He is also a perfect ball carrier and can bring the ball out of defence.
A 4-3-3 DM or a 4-2-3-1 could be the best-suited formation for the available squad and your selected tactic. Alternatively, a 3-5-1-1 or a 5-3-2 could be useful against tougher opposition.
A rough example of what your line-up would look like in a 4-2-3-1 formation is as follows,
Edouard Mendy as a sweeper-keeper
Azpilicueta as a Right Back & new signing Ben Chilwell as the left-back in a wing-back role.
Kurt Zouma & Thiago Silva as the 2 ball-playing centre backs.
Kante as the ball-winning midfielder & Kovacic as the deep-lying playmaker in support duty.
Hakim Ziyech as the right winder in an inverted winger role and Timo Werner as a left-winger in an inside forward role.
Kai Havertz in an attacking playmaker role.
Tammy Abraham as a lone striker in an Advanced Forward or as a Pressing forward role.
Alternatively, when you change to a 433, you can use Mason Mount as a B2B midfielder and play Pulisic on the left moving Werner to a central striker role.
Key Players
1. Ngolo Kante
Kante is probably one of the best central midfielders in the world and in the game too. He has a very high interception and tackle rating making him the perfect player to win you balls with a press.
2. Timo Werner
The German marksman is lethal in front of goal and is extremely pacy, making him a nightmare for defenders to mark. He also happens to be extremely versatile and can comfortably slot in on the left-wing or as a striker.
3. Hakim Ziyech
Another new signing, the Moroccan wizard creates plenty of opportunities for strikers to attack. He is also extremely deadly from set-piece situations and will drop deep making it very hard for the defenders to keep track of his movements.
4. Mateo Kovacic
Kovacic was the player of the year at Chelsea in the 2019-2020 season. The playmaker is extremely versatile and can play multiple roles in midfield to good effect. He is also a perfect ball carrier and can bring the ball out of defence.
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1. This is overall a very young squad and could take a few seasons for the youngsters to hit their prime.
2. The quality of goalkeepers in the squad is not the greatest and can definitely improve.
3. There are plenty of capable players out on loan who will come and demand first-team spots and will increase the wage bill massively when they return.
There are a few exciting young prospects in the ranks who have the potential to be some of the best players in the league. A few examples are,
Reece James is already capable of playing as a starter for most PL sides and will develop into one of the best right-backs in the game. He is an extremely potent crosser and will enable strikers with plenty of assists.
The 19-year-old Odoi has already been linked with several high profile moves. The winger is extremely versatile and will develop into a superstar in the game.
Anjorin is an attacking midfielder who can double up as a winger if and when needed. Under the right tutelage, he becomes a monster in most saves and will be an asset to managers after a couple of seasons.
Weaknesses
1. This is overall a very young squad and could take a few seasons for the youngsters to hit their prime.
2. The quality of goalkeepers in the squad is not the greatest and can definitely improve.
3. There are plenty of capable players out on loan who will come and demand first-team spots and will increase the wage bill massively when they return.
Youth Prospects
There are a few exciting young prospects in the ranks who have the potential to be some of the best players in the league. A few examples are,
1. Reece James
Reece James is already capable of playing as a starter for most PL sides and will develop into one of the best right-backs in the game. He is an extremely potent crosser and will enable strikers with plenty of assists.
2. Callum Hudson Odoi
The 19-year-old Odoi has already been linked with several high profile moves. The winger is extremely versatile and will develop into a superstar in the game.
3. Faustino Anjorin
Anjorin is an attacking midfielder who can double up as a winger if and when needed. Under the right tutelage, he becomes a monster in most saves and will be an asset to managers after a couple of seasons.
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Although Chelsea already have a strong squad, these additions could make them even stronger, enabling them to push for titles.
· Gianluigi Donnarumma
· Declan Rice
These players may be surplus to requirements at the club or may not be of the expected quality.
· Marcos Alonso
· Olivier Giroud
· Marco Van Ginkel
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To summarise, Chelsea is a solid squad for most FM21 managers, but it is also, an exciting challenge to help their young stars reach their potential. If you’re determined to overcome the volatility of the board years of success could await you.
Potential Transfers (in)
Although Chelsea already have a strong squad, these additions could make them even stronger, enabling them to push for titles.
· Gianluigi Donnarumma
· Declan Rice
Potential Transfers (Out)
These players may be surplus to requirements at the club or may not be of the expected quality.
· Marcos Alonso
· Olivier Giroud
· Marco Van Ginkel
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Summary
To summarise, Chelsea is a solid squad for most FM21 managers, but it is also, an exciting challenge to help their young stars reach their potential. If you’re determined to overcome the volatility of the board years of success could await you.
