The decision by Mauricio Pochettino to keep playing Levi Colwill at left-back this season is one that has baffled some Chelsea supporters.
Rise through the Ranks
Despite just being twenty years old, Levi Colwill rose through the Blues youth ranks as a highly regarded centre defender.
When the center-half was promoted into Chelsea‘s first squad this season, there was a lot of enthusiasm around Stamford Bridge. The center-half had experienced a step into senior football during the previous couple of years. With impressive loans at Huddersfield Town and Brighton.
This season, the left-footed defender has spent more time at full-back than center-back, though.
We’re concerned that the senior England international isn’t getting the most out of this key developmental period. Since he looks stable at left-back and is shows tremendous adaptability to slide in.
Levi Colwill is the choice
Mauricio Pochettino, the manager of Chelsea, has now provided an explanation. For his somewhat strange tactical choice in a piece from The Daily Mail.
It is acknowledged that the team’s overall lack of height is a contributing factor. In Pochettino’s decision to keep shoving Colwill into the left-back position. In their 2-0 loss to Everton over the weekend, they only started four players who were six feet or taller.
Colwill, who is 6 feet 2 inches tall, has a fantastic passing range and is quite at ease in possession.
In our opinion, a basic eye test would reveal that he is physically strong and has the physique of a centre defender.
He doesn’t naturally make overlapping runs from full-back, thus we’d much prefer start Ian Maatsen, Marc Cucurella, or Ben Chilwell in the wide position instead of him. Rather, Colwill ought to be a strong contender to start in his preferred position at the centre of defence.
Last week, Pochettino expressed his belief that Colwill had a bright future at Stamford Bridge in an interview with The Athletic. If that’s not as a ball-playing centre back, we’ll be shocked.
