System shift at Beşiktaş: Cerny back to his natural role on the right
Beşiktaş are preparing for a tactical reset as head coach Sergen Yalçın returns to a system he knows best, with a key move in the plan being Vaclav Cerny’s switch back to his original position on the right wing. The Czech international, one of the most productive names in the squad this season, is expected to become an even more decisive attacking weapon in his preferred zone.
Cerny leaves the No.10 role behind
Cerny arrived at Beşiktaş in the summer transfer window and initially started his black-and-white career on the right flank, the role in which he made his name in Europe. However, a crisis involving Rafa Silva and the lack of a consistent option in the playmaker role pushed Yalçın to use Cerny behind the striker for an extended period.
Although he adapted and contributed from that position, the coaching staff never saw him as a long-term specialist in the No.10 role. Instead, he was viewed as a temporary fix until the squad could be rebalanced in midfield and the attacking structure reshaped.
Midfield reinforced: Asllani and Olaitan join Ndidi
The turning point has come with the strengthening of the central midfield. Beşiktaş have bolstered the heart of the pitch by bringing in Kristjan Asllani from Inter and reaching an agreement with Junior Olaitan from Göztepe. These signings, together with existing options, give Yalçın far more flexibility to implement his preferred structure.
At the base of midfield, Wilfred Ndidi is set to be the protective shield in front of the defence. Known for his ball-winning ability, physical presence and positional discipline, Ndidi is expected to anchor the 4‑1‑4‑1 formation, allowing the rest of the midfield to play with more freedom.
Ahead of Ndidi, Yalçın plans to rotate and combine names like Orkun Kökçü, Asllani and Olaitan. This trio offers a mix of creativity, vertical passing, pressing intensity and late runs into the box. With that core in place, the team no longer needs to rely on a winger-turned-playmaker like Cerny to fill the gap.
Return to the 4‑1‑4‑1 that brought a title
Yalçın’s choice of system is far from random. During the 2020–2021 season, Beşiktaş were crowned champions playing primarily in a 4‑1‑4‑1 shape. That structure allowed the team to combine defensive stability with fluent, multi-layered attacking play. Now, the coach is looking to revive that blueprint.
In the renewed version of this system, Ndidi will sit in front of the back four, the line of four ahead of him will feature dynamic box-to-box and creative midfielders, and the wide players will be expected to provide width, dribbling, and direct goal threat. This is precisely where Cerny’s profile fits perfectly.
Cerny back on the right wing
With the squad rebalanced, Yalçın plans to move Cerny back to his natural habitat on the right flank. From there, the 28-year-old can do what he does best: attack one-on-one, cut inside onto his stronger foot, arrive in the box from the blind side and deliver accurate crosses and cut-backs.
So far this season, Cerny has already made his mark statistically despite spending significant time in an unfamiliar central role. In 18 appearances in all competitions, he has scored 6 goals and provided 6 assists. That output is impressive for a player frequently used out of position and suggests there is still upside to be unlocked once he returns to the wing.
The expectation inside the club is clear: with Cerny starting from the right, his goal involvement numbers should rise further, and the overall attacking balance should improve.
Why the right flank matters so much for Beşiktaş
In Yalçın’s game model, the wings are not just about stretching the pitch; they are often the starting point for finishing moves. The right side in particular has historically been crucial for Beşiktaş, with right wingers given licence to drift inside, combine with the central midfielders and arrive as additional forwards in the penalty area.
Cerny’s skill set aligns almost perfectly with these demands. He is comfortable receiving the ball near the touchline or between the lines, can drive at defenders at pace, and has the technique to shoot from distance or pick out the final pass. By moving him back to the flank instead of confining him to the congested central pocket behind the striker, Yalçın hopes to maximise space for him to exploit.
This adjustment should also open more room for the central midfielders. With defenders forced to step out and deal with Cerny wide, interior players such as Kökçü and Asllani can attack the half-spaces, arrive at the edge of the box, and create overloads centrally.
Tactical balance: Ndidi the anchor, Cerny the outlet
The new structure is built on a simple yet effective principle: strong defensive protection and aggressive attacking outlets. Ndidi’s presence in front of the defence should reduce the number of gaps in transition, something Beşiktaş have struggled with in previous phases of the project. His ability to cover large areas and break up counter-attacks will allow the full-backs and wingers, including Cerny, to operate higher up without leaving the back line constantly exposed.
On the ball, Ndidi’s role will be more conservative, focusing on circulating possession quickly to the technically gifted midfielders ahead of him. Once they receive, the first look will often be to the wings, especially towards Cerny, who can quickly turn defence into attack with his pace and directness.
What changes for the other attackers?
Cerny’s relocation to the right naturally influences the hierarchy and roles of the other attacking players. The central playmaker zone behind the striker, where he had been deployed for much of the season, will now more consistently belong to natural midfield creators like Kökçü or Asllani in advanced positions.
On the opposite flank, Beşiktaş are still working to find a long-term, high-impact solution. The club’s recent transfer record shows that while they managed to secure Cerny for a reasonable fee, recruiting a similarly effective left winger has proven more challenging and more expensive. This imbalance has occasionally forced the team to overload the right side; with a clearer system, the technical staff hope to distribute responsibility more evenly across the front line.
The centre-forward will benefit as well. A right winger who can cut inside, combine in tight spaces, and deliver early balls across the six-yard box is a striker’s ideal partner. If Cerny continues his form on the wing, the main No.9 should see more and higher quality chances created.
Cerny as one of the standout signings
Within the club, Cerny is already being spoken of as one of the most successful recent transfers. Acquired for around 6 million, he has quickly justified that investment with his direct contributions to goals and assists. Considering the difficulties the club has faced in finding consistent quality on the flanks for higher fees in past seasons, his impact stands out even more.
This context makes the decision to restore him to his best role not just a tactical choice, but also a way to maximise the club’s investment. A productive, confident Cerny on the right wing provides both short-term on-pitch value and longer-term financial upside if the club ever chooses to listen to offers for him.
Psychological and dressing-room impact
System changes are never only about magnets on a tactics board; they also carry psychological weight. Moving Cerny back to his natural position is seen internally as a sign that the coaching staff trust him to be one of the reference points of the attack.
For a player in his prime years at 28, being placed where he feels strongest can boost confidence and performance levels. Around him, new arrivals like Asllani and Olaitan will also feel a clearer sense of structure: they are stepping into a defined system with clearly outlined roles rather than a patchwork of short-term solutions.
The idea is that this clarity will translate into more cohesive performances, fewer individual mistakes born of confusion, and a more stable identity on the pitch.
Fans’ expectations and the road to the title race
Among the supporters, there is a growing belief that a return to the 4‑1‑4‑1 framework that delivered the 2020–2021 championship could once again push Beşiktaş into the heart of the title race. Many see Cerny’s use on the right as one of the keys to unlocking the team’s attacking potential. There is also a strong expectation that the midfield reinforcements will protect players like him from being misused out of position.
Of course, questions remain: Can Ndidi stay fit and consistent enough to anchor the entire structure? Will Asllani adapt quickly to the league’s physicality? Can Olaitan make the jump in level from Göztepe and become a reliable rotation option? The answers to these will determine how far Beşiktaş can go.
But one thing is clear inside the club: the new system is being built around familiar principles that have already worked under Yalçın, with Cerny repositioned as a central figure on the right. If his current productivity of 6 goals and 6 assists in 18 matches is a sign of what he can do out of position, Beşiktaş have every reason to believe that, back where he belongs, he can push those numbers even higher and become one of the main faces of this new, restructured team.