How Chelsea dominated West Ham 3-0: Tactical analysis

Last Saturday’s result was the perfect outcome for Chelsea: an away victory at a ground where they had previously won just twice. Three goals, a clean sheet, and three vital points made it an ideal afternoon for Enzo Maresca's Blues. This article evaluates Chelsea’s performance and the tactical battle that unfolded at the London Stadium. Let's dive into the details of what turned out to be an exemplary display for the West London team.

Team Sheets: Strategic Adjustments on Both Sides

Chelsea’s starting lineup saw notable changes, with Jadon Sancho, Enzo Fernandez, and Tosin Adarabioyo getting the nod, while Axel Disasi, Renato Veiga, and Pedro Neto were rested on the bench. As for the home side, West Ham's manager, Julen Lopetegui, made tactical changes aimed at defensive solidity. Tomas Soucek was dropped, replaced by Jose Rodriguez and Edson Alvarez to add defensive cover. Jarrod Bowen started up front, taking the place of Michail Antonio, while Niclas Fullkrug missed out due to injury.

First Half: Chelsea's Tactical Superiority

From the first minute, it became clear that West Ham's high-pressing shape had significant flaws. While their approach targeted Chelsea's central midfielders like Moises Caicedo, who was tightly marked, their defensive structure left gaping holes in key areas. Notably, Marc Cucurella was consistently left unmarked in central midfield, free to dictate play. This seemed puzzling as it allowed the Blues to maintain composure during their build-up phase.

Chelsea, on the other hand, mixed things up by dropping Fernandez and Cucurella deeper to support their buildup. This fluidity in their positioning created issues for West Ham’s pressing unit. Their wingers pressed Chelsea’s center-backs while also shadow-marking wide players, yet Cucurella’s free role in midfield kept the visitors’ attacks ticking.

One prime example of Chelsea’s clever movement came around the 15-minute mark. Players like Fernandez, Cucurella, Nicolas Jackson, and Cole Palmer constantly rotated and caused West Ham’s defenders to lose track of their assignments. Chelsea’s no.8s, Fernandez and Palmer, frequently dropped into half-spaces to receive the ball, further destabilizing West Ham’s defense.

Jackson's Influence and Chelsea's Opening Goal

Chelsea's striker was crucial in linking up play during the opening phases of the game. Jackson's ability to drop deep and receive passes between West Ham’s defensive lines gave the Irons' center-backs a dilemma: step up and risk leaving space behind, or allow him to influence the game. Alvarez, tasked with marking Jackson, often stepped up aggressively, which he made sure to punish.

The opening goal came from a quick-thinking move by Jackson. After winning a free kick, he took it swiftly, receiving a return pass from Fernandez. With Alvarez caught out of position, Jackson had acres of space on the left flank, bursting forward before calmly slotting the ball between Alphonse Areola’s legs to make it 1-0. West Ham’s slow defensive recovery and aggressive marking left them vulnerable, and Chelsea capitalized perfectly.

Pressing Disconnected: West Ham's Struggles

One of West Ham’s biggest issues in the first half was their disconnected pressing system. Although their forwards and midfielders pressed aggressively, there was a consistent gap between their defensive and midfield lines. This allowed Chelsea to exploit the space and progress the ball centrally with ease. West Ham’s front-line press overcommitted, while their backline was slow to step up, creating the perfect conditions for Chelsea to break through repeatedly.

The second goal was a direct result of this disconnection. Once again, Alvarez followed Jackson too tightly, leaving space for Chelsea to exploit. A fluid passage of play saw Jackson double his tally, as West Ham’s defensive line was unable to cope with the overload in the middle.

West Ham’s Response and Chelsea’s Mid-Block

While Chelsea's usual high-pressing game was expected, Maresca opted for a more passive mid-block in this game. The idea was to man-mark West Ham's double pivots and force the team in claret and blue to go wide. Although West Ham’s wingers had some space to run into when they received the ball, Chelsea’s backline was solid enough to block any meaningful progression into the final third.

West Ham’s best chance came when Crysencio Summerville managed to get past Wesley Fofana and appeared to be fouled in the box. However, the referee waved play on, leaving the home team frustrated.

Second Half: Chelsea Tighten Their Grip

West Ham started the second half brightly, trying to take the game to Chelsea, but they were undone once again by the same tactical flaws that had plagued them in the first half. Their pressing remained disjointed, and the space between their lines remained exploitable. Chelsea, meanwhile, continued to create opportunities and dominated the game, recording an impressive 1.26 xG in the second half compared to 0.93 in the first.

Chelsea's third goal effectively sealed the win, but their performance slightly dipped after going 3-0 up. Despite creating further opportunities for Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix, and Noni Madueke, the Blues were wasteful in front of goal. While the game was already won, this lack of sharpness in the final third was a minor criticism of an otherwise excellent display.

Standout Performers and Final Thoughts

There were several standout performers for Chelsea in this match. Jackson, with his two goals, was key in unlocking West Ham’s defense. Caicedo was tireless in midfield, mopping up loose balls and preventing West Ham’s counterattacks, while Levi Colwill and Tosin were instrumental in maintaining Chelsea’s clean sheet.

In conclusion, Saturday's performance marked a much-improved display from the Blues. Chelsea were tactically superior and made the most of West Ham’s vulnerabilities. A strong defensive showing and clinical attacking play ensured a vital three points that propelled the team into the top four.