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

West Ham’s Lack of Control

West Ham’s in-possession play was rather limited. They did not control the ball much during the game, except for brief moments, and lacked clear patterns in their play. They kept it simple, focusing primarily on defensive solidity. One pattern they did attempt was switching play after drawing Chelsea to one side of the pitch, but it was not particularly effective.

In the second half, the visitors created a bit of chaos and some half-chances, but they were ultimately unsuccessful in their attempts to break Chelsea down. They eventually fell back into their five-at-the-back defensive structure, which stifled any further attacking efforts.

The Comeback: Neto and Palmer Shine

The Blues equalized in the 64th minute, when Neto, isolated on the right wing, delivered a cross into the box. Guiu almost connected with it, but the ball fell to Cucurella, who had a swipe at it before it eventually fell to Fernandez. The Argentine’s shot was blocked, but Neto had cleverly advanced into the box and finished off the chance, scoring to make it 1-1.

The pressure on West Ham continued, and Chelsea regained the lead just 10 minutes later. Neto again initiated the attack with a cross from the right. The overhit cross was picked up by Cucurella, who immediately passed it to Palmer. The match had been lacking Palmer’s usual magic, but he delivered by charging at the West Ham defense before taking a shot that deflected off Aaron Wan-Bissaka, leading to the goal.

Final Stages: Chelsea's Vulnerabilities

In the final stages of the game, Chelsea continued to progress the ball comfortably, but West Ham put little pressure on the ball. In such situations, the home team should have looked to keep possession, fall into a solid rest defense structure, and maintain control of the game.

However, a risky switch was attempted and intercepted, which nearly allowed West Ham a late chance. While Maresca should have ensured his players understood the importance of controlling such periods, the responsibility also lies with the players to manage the game appropriately.

One notable example came in the 89th minute when Gusto received the ball in space and attacked it, setting up a back-and-forth that almost resulted in a West Ham corner. In these late stages, Chelsea should have prioritized game management rather than attacking for a third goal, especially given their vulnerabilities in defensive transitions.

In the end, Chelsea managed to secure all three points, pushing them back up into fourth place. The victory felt much needed, though the Blues found it difficult, they ultimately got the job done.

Chelsea now turn their attention to the FA Cup fourth round, where they face Brighton at the Amex Stadium, the first of a back-to-back fixture against the same opponent at the same venue. With Chelsea struggling to gain momentum in recent months, this win over West Ham could be the beginning of a new run. Maresca will certainly be hoping that it is.