The first encounter between Marcelo Bielsa and Thomas Tuchel did not live up to expectation. Leeds United’s aggressive pressing and Chelsea’s unorthodox shape in the first half, led to limited chances for the visitors; whilst Leeds were incapable of penetrating through an organized opposition defense. Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker. The matchup between […]
Facing off with a direct rival to their top-four aspirations, Chelsea looked to carry on their hot streak in a crucial matchup. But it turned out they had little to fear. Thanks to their usual stable platform and a new role for one of their big summer signings, the home team coasted to another win. […]
Chelsea’s attacking game plan sought to outplay the Liverpool pressure and beat their offside trap to release their forwards behind Liverpool’s defense. This was relatively successful in the first half and they ended up taking the lead via Mason Mount just before half-time. The second half saw Thomas Tuchel’s side conceding more territory and looking […]
Neither team was able to find the cutting edge to score in this match, but that was down to good defensive schemes as much as anything else. United were proactive in preventing Chelsea dominance in the first half, but then fell back in the second half. The home side had the better chances but were […]
Diego Simeone’s vintage defense-first mentality dictated the tempo and tactical pattern of this match. In a game where chances were rare and the game state only changed once, fans of football tactics still had enough to look out for. Eventually it took a little bit of Olivier Giroud magic to break the deadlock, meaning Atléti […]
Chelsea dominated the ball and had some moderate success playing against Southampton’s high pressing and forcing them deeper later in the half. However, Chelsea had problems creating shots and were punished for this when Takumi Minamino put Southampton ahead. Chelsea equalized through Mount early in the second half but were unable to break down the […]
Chelsea continued to provide intrigue in their third match under new coach Thomas Tuchel as they once again showed an ability to control possession and play in their opponents’ half. Tuchel’s slight tweak to the arrangement of his front three helped cause problems for Spurs. The home side became more aggressive in the second half […]
Flexibility, wide rotations, and false nine’s hit Chelsea with a flash of old Pep-fluency. Manchester City had the game wrapped up, with three goals before half-time, as they delivered a message for the rest of the league, whilst pressure continues to grow on Frank Lampard. Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker. A matchup between […]
A matchup between two teams, level on points, forty-eight hours after their last game was not ideal for both, but Chelsea and Aston Villa served up a feisty affair. Chelsea blew hot and cold, convincing combinations hand-in-hand with fruitless passes, whilst Aston Villa pressed effectively, without feeding their attack as much as they could have. […]
Boxing Day brought a much-needed win for Mikel Arteta. Not only does it buy him time, but the convincing way his Arsenal side dispatched their unflattering London rivals provides a blueprint for the future. His team showcased a functional system, combinations, and a balanced framework in an entertaining affair. Tactical analysis and match report by Joel […]