Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that he intends to change Chelsea's formation to compensate for the absence of Didier Drogba during the African Nations Cup.
The revamp, which can be read as both acknowledgment of the paucity of striking options at Stamford Bridge as well as Drogba's position of first among equals among the playing staff at the club, will see the Blues revert to a one-striker formation with the onus on Joe Cole and Deco to provide support for Nicolas Anelka. Behind them, Frank Lampard will be the vanguard of a three-man midfield.
"[The new line-up can work] as long as everyone's willing to sacrifice, and keep things balanced," Ancelotti is quoted as telling The Times. "I think when the African players go away in January this will be the ideal solution: using one forward, Anelka, with Deco and Cole behind, and Lampard in midfield.
"Drogba plays well with Anelka because they are two forwards with different characteristics. Drogba prefers to be more static, while Anelka moves around a lot so it wasn't very hard to get them to play together.
"The team reacted well to the change at the start of the season and can change again. I think when you bring something new tactically to a dressing room, it makes the players eager to pay attention, they're hungry for new things. Change is a positive thing. They certainly picked this up quickly."
However, as The Times notes, while Anelka has thrived this season in partnership with Drogba, 'The France striker has always struggled in the past when asked to lead the line, and will not receive much in the way of physical backing from Cole and Deco, who have not developed an understanding themselves as they have barely played together over the past two seasons.'