Chelsea 2:1 West Ham United - Tactical Analysis & Match Report

First Half: Control and Mistakes

In the first half, Chelsea were decent overall, controlling both the match and the tempo, a facet of their play that has often been lacking this season. However, Chelsea could have done more to raise the tempo in the final third. They created a few valuable chances, particularly during transitional moments, including Palmer’s free-kick that was spectacularly saved by Alphonse Areola.

Unfortunately, Chelsea’s good work was undone toward the end of the first half after a blunder from Colwill. He made a risky pass when he wasn’t balanced and was on his weaker foot. It was a mistake that came at the worst possible time.

The goal was not a result of a similar situation, but rather from a West Ham goal kick, where they won the second ball and broke down Chelsea’s defense. Colwill had been warned earlier in the match when Kudus pressured him into a similar mistake, but he didn’t heed the warning, leading to the blunder that allowed West Ham to take the lead.

Second Half: Substitutions and Control

Maresca made his first substitutions in the 51st minute, with Jackson coming off for Vitor Guiu and Pedro Neto replacing Jadon Sancho. After a frantic period, Maresca made further changes, bringing on Malo Gusto for James and Christopher Nkunku for Madueke.

These substitutions saw Neto move to the right wing, with Nkunku shifting to the left. The overall structure remained largely the same, but there were a few tactical tweaks. Palmer and Fernandez began switching positions more often, Cucurella provided more support on the overlap, and Gusto played a more conservative role as a wide centre-back but was also willing to advance and provide support in attack.