Inconsistencies in Goal-Kick Pressing
Interestingly, Jackson’s pressing can be highly effective when executed correctly. On occasion, he successfully blocked passing options, forcing André Onana into a long clearance that Chelsea easily reclaimed. But this effectiveness lacks consistency, as shown by another goal-kick situation in the same game.
In the below situation, Jackson does well with his initial position as he tries to curve his run again to block the pass to Martinez. The next obvious pass from Onana is to Casemiro.
— Fahd (@fahdahmed987) November 7, 2024
Caicedo, here, for a split second, is confused as to when to charge at Casemiro considering… pic.twitter.com/hirS2D4cl7
Here, Jackson aimed to curve his run to cut off a pass to Martínez, while Caicedo hesitated in choosing when to press Casemiro, leaving Onana with an ideal opportunity to bypass the press. Fortunately, Onana’s hesitation resulted in a turnover, but the episode reflects Chelsea’s broader pressing inconsistency.
A second later, Onana has the perfect opportunity to break Chelsea's press because of two reasons:
— Fahd (@fahdahmed987) November 7, 2024
1. Jackson isn't close enough as he hasn't pressed intensely
2. Caicedo is not tight to Casemiro, which opens to the passing lanes -> Martinez -> Ugarte.
However, Onana takes too… pic.twitter.com/VwH270hQhC
The Need for Pressing Awareness
In high-energy games, it’s not sustainable for players to press relentlessly for ninety minutes. At times, Chelsea adopts a more passive press, but even when intensity decreases, awareness should remain high to maintain compactness and cut off central passing options. In one sequence, Dalot received the ball in the Reds' half, where Pedro Neto applied moderate pressure. Dalot skillfully evaded the challenge, exposing Chelsea’s mid-block and leaving Casemiro free in the middle. Here, Jackson and especially Palmer had an opportunity to close down Casemiro but failed to react quickly, allowing Manchester United to exploit the space.
In this sequence, a pass is played out to Dalot whilst Neto engages in a semi-intense press to prevent his Portuguese counterpart to have a lot of time on the ball.
— Fahd (@fahdahmed987) November 7, 2024
But Dalot swiftly evades Neto with a neat touch - opening Chelsea's mid-block structure. The first gap that… pic.twitter.com/NlYDkOuSMZ
Despite these issues, there are moments when Chelsea’s frontmen get it right. In one instance, Palmer read the play well, anticipating a back-pass and intercepting possession, which created an immediate chance for Chelsea. It’s clear that Jackson and Palmer have the potential to lead a well-coordinated press; the challenge lies in their consistency. Interestingly, in this scenario, Neto’s quick recovery down the left flank also illustrated his commitment to defensive responsibilities.
Here is another moment when Chelsea's frontline press get the defensive anticipation right. Here, Ugarte is under pressure as Caicedo attempts to force a turnover.
— Fahd (@fahdahmed987) November 7, 2024
Palmer does superbly well to foresee the backwards pass to the United CB. So, he jumps early and intercepts… pic.twitter.com/K44G5to7rq