Chelsea's Build-up Play
When the home side had the ball, they initially set up in a 4-1-2-3 shape. Reece James operated as the narrower fullback, while Marc Cucurella was involved in build-up play before advancing into the half-space. Additionally, Enzo Fernandez dropped from the right half-space to assist Chelsea’s build-up, along with Cole Palmer, who dropped from the number 10 role.
Higher up the field, we saw Chelsea opting for their diamond shape again. In the 3-1-6, Palmer and Fernandez especially had the license to roam about and find space. That could involve going deeper or drifting into other zones.
— Fahd (@fahdahmed987) February 4, 2025
West Ham were passive for the most part but they… pic.twitter.com/Mqd2kBZ1ut
Nicolas Jackson’s role was to pin the opposition center-backs while occasionally dropping between the lines. The wingers were tasked with holding width, which was in contrast to West Ham’s initial 5-2-3 out-of-possession structure.
Higher up the field, Chelsea reverted to a diamond shape, particularly in the 3-1-6 formation. Palmer and Fernandez had the license to roam, often drifting into different zones. The visitors were mostly passive but occasionally transitioned into a high press. Given their 5-2-3 structure, they could press Chelsea’s backline with a man-to-man approach. However, more often than not, they dropped deep, defending in a 5-4-1 or even a 5-5-0 shape at times.