KIER PRESSURE
How Chelsea could line up under Kieran McKenna with Osimhen spearheading team and new system
McKenna's tactical set-up includes several huge differences to Mauricio Pochettino's
CHELSEA could line up with a bold new look if they make Kieran McKenna their next manager while also signing stars like Victor Osimhen.
38-year-old gaffer McKenna has worked wonders at Ipswich Town, securing back-to-back promotions after a second-place finish in the Championship.
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And he is one of the favourites to take charge at Chelsea following Mauricio Pochettino’s shock departure.
Should McKenna move to Stamford Bridge, he would likely deploy his favoured 4-2-3-1 system which worked wonders in England’s second and third tiers.
The possession-heavy system relies on short, sharp passes and fluidity in the final third, as well as a solid double pivot in midfield.
McKenna’s left-back often pushes high to create a four-man attack behind the striker, with the right-back dropping in to create a three-man defence.
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The two midfielders stay deep, while the left winger moves inside to become a second striker.
This is different to Pochettino’s version of the same system, which saw the left-back invert into midfield.
That pushed one of the 6s up as a ’false 10', keeping the left forward out wide.
And with a few additions, McKenna’s amazing take on a classic shape could work wonders with Chelsea’s squad.
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Chelsea are beyond a laughing stock
By Andy Dillon
CHELSEA’S longest serving manager under the club’s new owners has left by mutual consent.
The fact that Mauricio Pochettino lasted only 325 days underlines what a basket case of a club it has become.
You might expect a manager to lose his job after five games WITHOUT a win but only Chelsea could lose theirs after five wins on the spin.
When the supporters wrote an open letter to chairman Todd Boehly and his sidekick Behdad Eghbali in March, they expressed fears that their beloved Chelsea was becoming a ‘laughing stock on and off the pitch’.
It is way beyond that now with the departure of the manager who finally looked to be getting a tune out of a squad branded ‘£1billion bottle jobs’ just over two months ago as they crashed to defeat against Liverpool’s youth team in the Carabao Cup Final.
Read Andy Dillon's full take on the sacking of Pochettino and what it means here.
Djordje Petrovic’s impressive debut season negates the need for a new goalkeeper, so he would retain the No1 jersey.
At right-back, a fully-fit Reece James edges out Malo Gusto, especially as he may be required to defend more than usual.
Who could be Chelsea's next boss after Pochettino exit?
Levi Colwill’s undoubted potential should see him become first-choice next season.
But with Trevoh Chalobah set to be sold, and Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile still underwhelming, a new centre-back will be needed.
Wesley Fofana’s proneness to long-term injuries makes this a real necessity too.
And Chelsea could swoop for highly-rated Sporting Lisbon star Ousmane Diomande, already a Portuguese league winner and AFCON champ with Ivory Coast at the age of 20.
A new left-back is also needed, with Ben Chilwell enduring another injury-plagued season and Marc Cucurella also reportedly up for sale.
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Step forward Alphonso Davies, who has been on Chelsea’s radar all season.
The Canadian’s Bayern Munich deal expires in 2025, with Davies so far resisting the urge to pen an extension.
He had been hoping for a summer switch to Real Madrid, but reports claim the Spaniards have ended their interest.
And that opens the door for Chelsea to pounce, with Davies’ incredible speed and eye for goal making him an ideal candidate to bomb forward down the left and join the attack.
In midfield, with Conor Gallagher likely to go due to his contract situation, it should be a simple choice for McKenna.
Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo are yet to click together, but have shown their individual qualities on other occasions.
The midfield pivot is a key part of McKenna’s system, and he will make it a priority to drill the duo into finally looking like a £200million pairing.
Further forward, Cole Palmer will go straight into the side as the No10 after his incredible debut season which ended with the Prem’s Young Player of the Year award.
Christopher Nkunku could then be deployed on the left, allowing him to constantly drift inside as a secondary striker with Davies providing the width.
And on the right, McKenna could turn to Omari Hutchinson, who was on Ipswich at loan this season and played a huge role in promotion.
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The ex-Arsenal ace has already expressed his desire to remain with the Tractor Boys for another term.
But should McKenna head straight to west London, Hutchinson would surely be desperate to stay put and fight Noni Madueke to stay wide on the right.
Finally, it’s no secret Chelsea need a new striker, despite Nicolas Jackson’s decent first campaign.
Rival fans have for years feared the prospect of a 30-plus goal hero finishing off the constant chances carved out by Chelsea’s playmakers, which have been constantly squandered by a string of dud forwards.
And the time is finally right for the ownership to go all out for Napoli star Osimhen, who is one of European football’s most clinical finishers.
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He has 76 goals in 132 games for his club, including 31 strikes in the 2022/23 campaign.
And McKenna would likely be left salivating at the prospect of the £100m man roaming free in the opposition box.
Who could be the next Chelsea manager?
HERE are the seven names in the running to replace Mauricio Pochettino after his shock exit from Chelsea.
Roberto De Zerbi
The Italian left Brighton at the end of the season after a year and a half in charge. He was linked with a host of top jobs earlier in the campaign but a difficult run of results saw him fall out of contention for the likes of Liverpool. De Zerbi’s attacking, front-foot style would be popular at Stamford Bridge.
Kieran McKenna
The former Manchester United assistant has led Ipswich to back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League. That has seen his stock shoot through the roof and he may be tempted to jump ship for a big job.
Enzo Maresca
Maresca was Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City and has worked wonders at Leicester, settling the ship to send the Foxes back to the Premier League at the first attempt. Appointing a Pep disciple has turned Arsenal into title contenders, so it could work for Chelsea too.
Hansi Flick
Flick was one of football’s most in-demand managers after winning the Champions League with Bayern Munich. But it all went wrong in his next role becoming the first manager ever to be sacked by Germany. Now he’s ready to return and could be a smart move for the Blues
Sebastian Hoeness
Chelsea fans may not have heard of him, but Hoeness is Germany’s next big thing. Hoeness has transformed Stuttgart from relegation candidates to the second best team in the Bundesliga, finishing above Bayern Munich. Only invincible Bayer Leverkusen got in the way of a miracle.
Michel
Michel Sanchez has worked wonders with little Girona in Spain. The minnows were right in the LaLiga title race at Christmas before watching Real Madrid shoot into the distance. But they ran illustrious Catalan neighbours Barcelona all the way for second and are guaranteed a spot on the Champions League. Reports in Spain say that has caught Chelsea’s attention.
Jose Mourinho
Still adored by fans at Stamford Bridge, who never warmed to former Spurs boss Pochettino, Mourinho would be a popular pick. Winner of three Premier League with the Blues across two topsy-turvy spells, could he be the man to take Chelsea back to the top?
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