🔎 Chelsea 2-1 Spurs - an analysis thread: 
Some excellent video analysis:
In stark contrast to the game at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium where Lampard deployed Willian in a very wide left position to exploit Aurier’s ill-discipline, he used two number 10s in Barkley & Mount behind the striker
This had 3 effects:
This had 3 effects:
Effect 1 - It meant Chelsea outnumbered Spurs’ midfield 3 with 4 bodies which allowed them to control the game - 64% possession in first half
Effect 2 - They exploited the space in between the lines of Spurs’ midfield 3 & defence.Spurs no longer play a defensive shield at DM nor a high line so this space can be quite significant
• Barkley-Mount even combined in this space, for Alonso’s goal
• Ndombele & Winks only made 5 ball recoveries between them in the first half even though they were Spurs’ deepest midfielders. Kovačić made 10 alone despite Spurs having very little possession (36%)
• Ndombele & Winks only made 5 ball recoveries between them in the first half even though they were Spurs’ deepest midfielders. Kovačić made 10 alone despite Spurs having very little possession (36%)
Effect 3 - It meant Barkley & Mount were narrow to press all 3 Spurs CBs
• This meant the space was out wide in Spurs’ build-up
•But Mourinho used defensive players at wing-back in Davies & Tanganga,so there was no threat (0 accurate crosses combined)
• This meant the space was out wide in Spurs’ build-up
•But Mourinho used defensive players at wing-back in Davies & Tanganga,so there was no threat (0 accurate crosses combined)
• Davies & Tanganga were also very deep in what was very much a back 5 instead of a 3, which didn’t help Spurs progress the ball.
Compare to how advanced Chelsea’s wing-backs were:
Compare to how advanced Chelsea’s wing-backs were:
•The other option was to go direct instead of playing through the press - Spurs played 25 long balls compared to Chelsea’s 23 (who actually had a target man playing) - given Bergwijn & Moura aren’t target men and won just 4 aerial duels, this was a flawed approach
•When Spurs switched to a 3-4-3 with Lamela’s substitution and so a double pivot with Lo Celso deeper alongside Winks, they were actually able to get some control in the game - 233 passes completed to Chelsea’s 69 after this happened. Future consideration for Mourinho
• Lampard’s approach to play 3 CBs was also perfect to defend against Bergwijn & Moura who like to run into wide channels. Rüdiger & Azpilicueta wet dribbled past just once
•Azpilicueta was particularly pro-active making 9 tackles/interceptions.
•Azpilicueta was particularly pro-active making 9 tackles/interceptions.
