Chelsea vs Leicester City Match Analysis

One of the best coaches if not the best coach in world football at the moment, Thomas Tuchel clashes with a tactically astute and one of the best British managers in Brendan Rodgers. However, Tuchel's side came out on a top with a convincing 3-0 victory over the Foxes. We will look from Chelsea's perspective on how Tuchel and his staff were able tactically dominate Leicester in all facets of the game.

Playing out from the back (POFB): Structured Build Up Play

Chelsea's build-up came from the well established back 3 of Chalobah, Silva and Rudiger. Here when Mendy has the ball, the back 3 look to position behind the 1st line of pressure from Leicester's Jaime Vardy. Here, Jorghino as the main pivot is marked, therefore, Kante looks to drop in from a high position to make a double pivot which creates an equal 2 v 2 numerical load in the central zone. This frees up space on the left-hand side with Rudiger and Chilwell to possibly play out with a 3 v 2 advantage.

When Chelsea POFB, Reece James is positioned high and wide to create verticality and width on the right side. As soon as Mendy plays a short to pass to Silva, Chelsea's back 3 get pressed. This presented a common solution for Tuchel's side. Chilwell often looked to drift from the wide left wing position to invert into the left half space. Chilwell's positioning in this zone creates a central out-ball for Mendy to hit under pressure. This also allows Hudson Odoi to rotate into the wide channel creating element of uncertainty for Leicester players on who to mark.

The Midfield Battle

On most occasions while in possession, Chelsea played with a midfield shape of a 3-1-2-4/3-2-5. This was lethal against Leicester's predominant 5-3-2 mid-block, mainly due to the fluidity in movement and rotations amongst Chelsea's attackers and midfielders. Thiago Silva acted as the deepest central defender, a Libero, to not only relieve pressure but to also recycle the ball or to find penetrative passes either long in the channels or between the lines. Chalobah and Rudiger positioned in the half-space creating good passing angles with Rudiger at times almost creating a double pivot with Jorghino to allow Kante to push higher in the right half-space. It is important to note that during the midfield build-up, Chelsea constantly rotated players between the wide channels and half-spaces. For instance, when Reece James pushed higher up the pitch to create width on the ball side. Mount looked to vacate his central position to fill in the RWB role which allowed for either Odoi or Havertz to drop into the central space to receive on the half-turn.

Potency of the 3rd Man

Throughout the game, Chelsea were able to bypass Leicester's midfield lines through 3rd man combination play. For instance, Chalobah makes a pass to Kante, in which he lays off to Jorghino and spins off Ndidi. This gives a trigger for Havertz as the false 9 to drop into space dragging an opposition centre-back in which receives a pass from Jorghino, in which he lays off back to Kante in the half-space. The up-back-through combination was not only an effective tool to use in this game but is a good tool to use against teams who sit in a structured defensive block, as it the pattern allows fluidity in player movement and can create uncertainty for opposition markers.

Pressing Shape & Tactics

Chelsea's high press shape consisted of a 3-4-2-1 formation. As soon as the ball was played back to Leicester's keeper this was the trigger for one of the front 3, in this case Mount to curve his run to force Schmeichel one way. Havertz and Odoi are positioned narrow to stop progression through Leicester's centre-backs of Amartey and Evans. As soon as the ball is played into the wide channel wing back this initiates the trigger for Chelsea to press the opposition. Both Chilwell and Reece James are vital to the press as they look to use the touchline as an extra defender to force the opposition into losing possession in their own half.

Another example of the pressing shape is shown here, as Chelsea shape into a defensive mid-block of a 5-2-3 carrying similar principles from their high press. Jorghino has been tasked to man mark Ndidi as he is pivotal in Leicester's ball progression. Chelsea look to create an equal load in the wide channels i.e. a 3 v 3 using the sideline as an extra defender which is an effective tactic to control the space. It is important to note the positioning of Chelsea's front 3 as when possession is on one side of the pitch the front 3 look to cover shadow Leicester's back 3 to prevent them from recycling the ball.

Low Block

Chelsea apply fundamental pressure, cover, balance principles along with a solid defensive structure to help close down key spaces. Here, Chelsea apply a 5-3-2 low block in order to block the half spaces and prevent Leicester from having control in these areas. For example, Jorghino aggressively acts as the pressure defender hounding down Harvey Barnes. Kante acts as the cover defender positioning himself wide enough to block possible passes but also close enough to cover Jorghino in case the attacker gets passed him. Mason Mount backs up the Gegen-press by blocking backward passing lanes to Leicester's defenders. Furthermore, it was common in this game to see Rudiger come out of the back 5 line, almost acting as a defensive midfielder. His aggressive player profile allows him to zonally mark Lookman while guarding zone 14.

Goal Analysis:

1st Goal - Antonio Rudiger (14min)

Chelsea's 1st goal came from their 1st set piece of the game. Ben Chilwell performs an in-swinging cross towards the keepers 6 yard box. Rudiger initially starts in an offside position onto the keeper in which he acts as a a screen in order to block the keeper's movement to come for the cross. However, as soon as the cross comes in Rudiger straight away goes into an onside position to head the ball in the back of the net. Few tactical movements to note. Havertz starts in a central position, however then applies misdirection concept to curve his run on the blind side of Harvey Barnes to possibly receive the ball on the back post. This creates further space for Mount in case the ball gets headed towards the edge of the 18 yard box. In addition, Odoi, also screens Ndidi in order to allow Rudiger to avoid the more contestable duel.

2nd Goal - N'Golo Kante (28min)

Chelsea's 2nd goal started from a vertical pass down the sideline from Chalobah to Reece James, who is able to receive on his backfoot with an open body position to turn away from Soumare. This forces Castagne, who is the cover defender, to now act as the new pressure defender which leaves Kante open in the half space to receive and drive forward.

When Kante drives forward, he is helped with the positioning of teammates around him. For instance, Kai Havertz continues his run between the centre-backs to pin them back forcing them to make a decision on who presses Kante. If Evans presses Kante, this opens up a possible reverse through ball option to slip in Havertz. Odoi and Chilwell's positioning is also effective as it isolates Albrighton in a 2 v 1 situation, if Kante did decide to make the pass wide. Overall Chelsea had a 4 v 3 central overload making it easier for Kante to drive through and score as shown in the image above.

3rd Goal - Christian Pulisic (71min)

Chelsea's 3rd goal was the final nail in the coffin. Leicester adopted a more aggressive approach as they were chasing game. Rodgers and his men switched to a 5-1-3-1 pressing shape during the latter stages of the game in order to prevent Jorghino picking up the ball beyond Vardy's 1st line of pressure. As shown above, Vardy curves his run towards the left to prevent Silva from making a pass straight to Chalobah. However, Leciester's mistake came from Maddison and Soumare, as they did not know who to pick up of either Kante or Jorghino. The fact that Leiecester didn't have their opposite wide player in proximity to block the switch was detrimental to the Foxes. This narrow press was easily bypassed as Jorghino dropped in and made a simple lateral pass into Chalobah who drove into space.

Chelsea's attacking tactical elements of the game was expressed here. Ziyech makes a pentetrating run into the half space creating an element of uncertainty for Leicester's Castagne and Soyuncu. Reece James positioning in the wide channel forces Castagne to make the decision to either come out wide or protect the half space. That split second decision to come towards Reece James, allows Chalobah to execute a perfectly weighted through ball to break Leciester's compact back 5 shape.

Upon receiving the through pass, Ziyech executes 1 v 1 skill which included techniques such as feints, quick stepovers and overall expressing his ability to turn quickly. Pulisics's movement is also vital here as he looks to come short but realises Ziyech does not have the ideal body position to make a pass to him, he decides to run on the blind side of Evans which leads to a cutback and a well timed finish from the American.

Conclusion

Tuchel and his coaching staff tactically dominated the game from start to finish. Chelsea were able to express more of the attacking prowess with the more effective chance creation. The difference in individual quality and tactical application really showed in this game. It wasn't Leicester's most glamorous day in the office who are going through a patch of rough form. However, I am sure Brendan Rodgers, coaching staff and the players will be able to get back on track as the season goes on.