Brighton v Chelsea: Tactical Review

Use of Fullbacks made the difference

Chelsea named their consistent lineup with Gusto being the only change in their 4-2-3-1 formation. Brighton pulled up with their own 4-2-3-1 with Gilmour and Lamptey in the lineup to face their former club.

Chelsea, as they have been setting up against Brighton consistently this season because of the set way Brighton built up, looked to disrupt Brighton's build-up by aggressively pressing in a 4-1-4-1 shape. The aim was always to force Brighton to the side and win it there. With Jackson forcing the CBs to play the ball to one side, Gallagher and Palmer pressing Gross and Gilmour, Noni and Mudryk tracking the fullbacks. Badiashille also marked Joao Pedro when he dropped back to receive the ball.

Brighton managed to play out through a lack of cohesive press at times. Mudryk lost Gross in this instance and they are well-drilled in the build-up, so they will play out at times.

Our counter press was as good as the press and forced Brighton back whenever we won the ball. We worked incredibly hard out of possession which seems to be the new normal.

Chelsea built up in a 3-2 shape with Badiashille, Chalobah and Gusto tucking in as the RCB in possession, similar to Gusto in preseason, which happened for the first time this season. Caicedo and Cucurella formed the pivot.

Chelsea's rotation and dynamic build-up though was interesting as Gusto usually started at RCB, but then can form the midfield pair, rotating with Caicedo who will then be the RCB in possession in that play.

Notice Caicedo is signalling to Gusto to move forward and come into midfield.

There were also phases in which Cucurella ended up as the LCB in possession and Caicedo became the single pivot, with Gusto and Gallagher on either side of him. Cucurella also took the LHS at times in the front line whilst Gallagher dropped deep to receive in the pivot, with Jackson rotating with Palmer at times too.

Then at times, it’s Conor & Cucu in the pivot and Caicedo at RCB, Gusto attacked from the RHS. It was all very fluid cause there were lots of rotations. It’s hard to mark. It’s possible if all your players are very comfortable in different areas of the pitch.

Gusto and Cucurella's roles were very interesting when we attacked as they helped create overloads depending on the wing; we attacked from both wings. Gusto started from RCB in possession but when we attacked and went through the wings, Gusto and Cucurella made late runs from deep, overlapping/underlapping runs to create an extra man in attack which is hard to track. Arsenal play this way, especially on the right with Odegaard, Saka and White overlapping them. The reason it’s hard to track is because the Brighton defenders in this case wouldn’t know who's making that run and won’t know how to quickly assign a marker to them and even when they find out, it’s hard to match the speed of the runner.

Those were key to how we created our goals and chances.

For goal no 1, in one sequence, Cucu starts at the pivot with Caicedo, Mudryk and Conor rotating, Baidashille and Caciedo rotate, Mudryk and Cucurella rotate positions, and Cucurella's run is from midfield, finding the space with an inseam run and a good cross for a brilliant Palmer header. A good sequence of play.

Chelsea reverted to a compact 4-4-2 mid-block highline when we didn’t have the ball. The Chelsea defenders were well aware of the runs of the Brighton attackers so they matched each run in behind.

Brighton's biggest threat was out wide on the wings as Lamptey especially caused multiple problems when he was left 1v1 against Cucurella and it wasn’t just his 1V1 threat, it was his crosses as well.

In the 2nd half, Brighton came out much better and aggressively to play. They capitalised on poor coordination of the press at times early 2nd half and managed to pin us in our half a few times.

Brighton instead was more dangerous on the wings, creating chances from their 1v1 wingers after working it in the half spaces, but Gusto and Cucurella were equal to them when they got early crosses in they had chances and eventually got the goal although we were a man down.

Most times though, when Chelsea were under the cosh, they reverted to their 442 midblock and were ready to spring on the transition when we won the ball. Better decision making and we would be 3/4-0 up in the 2nd half.

Chelsea could withstand the Brighton pressure and regain control of the game which suits the team much better. Again Gusto, who started at RCB, made the late run from deep again after giving it to Noni, which Adingra was unable to track, similar to Cucurella in the 1st half.

It was comfortable until James's red card. Brighton put enough pressure on Chelsea to get a goal back from their wing threat. This time from Joao Pedro.

Chelsea ended up with a well-deserved victory after controlling large parts of the game. Using a defined pattern to create and score the goals we did and more chances. With a point left to secure a Europa League place, the winning run continues.

Seun