Last weekend, Enzo Maresca faced one of the most tactically astute managers and well-drilled sides in the league—Thomas Frank’s Brentford. After a 1-0 victory over Spurs, Maresca rotated the side heavily, with Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson notably on the bench.
The game ended 0-0 despite the many chances both sides created. This article analyzes the various tactical talking points and evaluates them in detail.
Out-of-Possession Structure: Chelsea’s High Press
When teams control possession in a match, it often stems from their out-of-possession (OOP) intent. This was no different in the Brentford–Chelsea tie, as the visitors applied an aggressive press to force turnovers when the Bees tried to build up.
Against Brentford’s 4-2-4 build-up shape, Chelsea pressed high with Noni Madueke (the right winger) pressing Brentford's left centre-back, Sepp van den Berg, whilst shadow covering the left-back, Keane Lewis-Potter. However, Chelsea’s OOP plan was permeable.
As Mark Flekken kicked the ball long, the other responsibilities across the pitch became apparent. Jadon Sancho closely tracked Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford’s right-back), while Chelsea’s midfielders man-marked Brentford’s central players. This OOP system enabled the Blues to maintain a man surplus at the back, with a -1 press from the frontline allowing better competition for long balls and providing coverage against Brentford’s forward movement.