West Ham’s Counter-Attack Strategy
West Ham’s game plan was straightforward: test the Blues on the transition. Maresca’s team played aggressively on the ball, which left a 3-1 rest defense structure, leaving space on the flanks for West Ham to exploit. They aimed to overload Caicedo in midfield and take advantage of the space left by Chelsea’s high defensive line.
Chelsea’s struggles with defensive transitions this season made this a logical strategy for Potter. West Ham tried to exploit these vulnerabilities by pressing Chelsea high up the pitch and looking to hit them on the break.
For West Ham, the plan was clear and simple - test Chelsea on the transition. Since Maresca wanted his side to be aggressive on the ball, they left a 3-1 rest defense structure. So, there was space in the flanks to attack. They could overload Caicedo in midfield as well.… pic.twitter.com/o3kBfEaRjJ
— Fahd (@fahdahmed987) February 4, 2025