Chelsea 1:0 Tottenham Hotspur - Tactical Analysis & Match Report (1-0)

As the Premier League entered its final stretch, Enzo Maresca's Chelsea faced a crucial task. With just eight games remaining, the Blues needed to either maintain their current league ranking or, at the very least, drop just one position to secure Champions League qualification for next season.

However, a tough run of fixtures, combined with internal challenges, made this a difficult proposition. The first test in this period was a home clash against rivals Tottenham Hotspur. In yet another chaotic derby, Chelsea emerged victorious with a narrow 1-0 win.

This article provides a comprehensive tactical analysis of the match, breaking down key moments and insights into both teams' strategies.

Chelsea’s Build-Up vs Spurs’ Out-of-Possession Approach

The Blues set up in a 4-2-4 build-up structure, with Enzo Fernández dropping alongside Moisés Caicedo to form a double pivot while the backline stretched wide, and goalkeeper Robert Sánchez joined in as an additional passing option.

Against this, Spurs' pressing approach was led by Dominic Solanke, who took on multiple players in succession—starting with Levi Colwill (LCB), then pressing Sánchez (GK), and finally moving to Trevoh Chalobah (RCB). Meanwhile, Chelsea’s midfield and fullbacks were man-marked, cutting off direct short passing options. This allowed Spurs to double up on Nicolas Jackson while maintaining 1v1 duels against Chelsea’s wingers and Cole Palmer.

As a result, Chelsea’s center-backs and goalkeeper had time on the ball. With good passers like Chalobah and Colwill at the back and the returning Jackson providing a strong off-ball presence up front, Chelsea could exploit long passes in behind. This pattern was evident throughout the match, as Jackson frequently made runs behind the Spurs defense. Early on, he nearly scored when an attempt deflected onto the post.

Around the 15th-minute mark, Ange Postecoglou made a key adjustment in Spurs' high press. They switched to a strict man-to-man marking system, aiming to limit Chelsea’s ability to build from deep. However, between the defensive and middle third, Spurs still pressed with a -1 setup, either leaving a Chelsea midfielder or an inverted fullback free or allowing a wide center-back to have time on the ball. This approach maintained their +1 numerical advantage at the back but occasionally left a free Chelsea player in midfield.