Italy CT Roberto Mancini has recently switched to a 3-5-2 system, but how would Federico Chiesa fit into the Azzurri’s new formation?
The Juventus star has been out of action since January due to a severe knee injury and is expected to return at the end of October. He could be available for the next two international friendlies against Albania and Austria in November, although Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri has warned that the winger will be 100% fit from January.
Chiesa has already played in a 3-5-2 system at Fiorentina. It was the beginning of his professional career and Paulo Sousa used to play him wide on any of the two flanks.
Playing wide in midfield in such a formation would force him to have defensive duties which could make him less effective in the final third.
Mancini has mainly used natural full-backs on the flanks against England and Hungary, starting Federico Dimarco and Giovanni Di Lorenzo in both games.
This suggests that the CT may have different plans for Chiesa once the 24-year-old returns to action.
As things stand, the most likely role for Chiesa in Italy’s 3-5-2 system is in attack, where he would partner a classic centre forward such as Gianluca Scamacca or Ciro Immobile.
He could also play alongside Giacomo Raspadori, forming a more dynamic and unpredictable attacking partnership.
Chiesa has been mostly deployed as an attacking winger in Italy and Juventus’ 4-3-3 systems over the last two years, but Allegri said last season that the Italy international has the potential to develop into a support striker in the future.
Chiesa made his senior Italy debut under Mancini in March 2018 and has scored four goals in 37 appearances with the Azzurri.