Chelsea entered the match with renewed confidence, having secured back-to-back wins against Southampton and Copenhagen. Enzo Maresca’s side lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Wesley Fofana returning as a right-back.
The front four remained unchanged from the Southampton game, although Cole Palmer reportedly started while dealing with an illness. Robert Sánchez also returned in goal, adding stability to Chelsea’s defensive structure.
Leicester, on the other hand, made an interesting tactical shift. For what was likely the first time under Enzo Maresca’s former assistant, Steve Van, they opted for a back five—a setup also used by Copenhagen in midweek to frustrate Chelsea.
This was no coincidence; opposition teams have consistently deployed a back five against the Blues this season, recognizing it as a formation that disrupts their attacking rhythm. In fact, Chelsea had to adjust their approach right after warm-ups to counter Leicester’s setup.
Here is your Chelsea vs Leicester Tactical Review.
Chelsea vs Leicester Tactical Review
Chelsea initially set up in their usual 3-2-5 base shape, but with Leicester deploying a back five, they quickly adapted to a 3-1-6 diamond structure to find solutions in attack.
- Palmer operated at the tip of the diamond.
- Nkunku played from the left with Cucurella providing overlaps.
- Caicedo anchored the midfield, sitting deep.
- Enzo moved to the right, offering progression.
- Neto functioned as a false nine, while Sancho held width on the right.
This change was crucial in breaking Leicester’s defensive shape, as it forced their defenders to step out of position when pressing Chelsea’s midfield diamond.
Leicester’s Pressing Struggles Against Chelsea’s Shape
Early on, Leicester encountered a major issue when they failed to remain compact in their press. With only two midfielders against Chelsea’s four central players, gaps opened up for Colwill to break the lines and find Palmer in the half-spaces.
To counter this, Leicester’s defenders were instructed to press Chelsea’s diamond aggressively. For instance, Justin was tasked with pressing Nkunku, which forced Colwill to bypass midfield and switch play instead. However, Chelsea exploited these pressing triggers to progress up the pitch quickly. Whenever Leicester’s defenders were pulled out, Chelsea moved the ball vertically, transitioning from back to front in seconds.
Chelsea’s Attacking Patterns and Key Players
Chelsea primarily created chances through:
- Sancho’s 1v1 ability on the right – He repeatedly drove at Leicester’s defense, winning a penalty from one of his dribbles.
- Rotational movement in attack – Neto often dropped deep, interchanging positions with teammates, such as rotating wide with Sancho.
- Cucurella’s cutbacks – He consistently found space behind Leicester’s defense to deliver low-driven passes into the box. Unfortunately, Palmer wasn’t able to connect cleanly with these opportunities.
- Deep runners in behind – Chelsea looked to stretch Leicester by pulling defenders out of shape, allowing Cucurella and others to make well-timed runs beyond the last line.
While Leicester did a decent job defending back-post deliveries, they struggled more with Chelsea’s cutbacks, which created the best shooting opportunities.
Chelsea’s Defensive Approach and Pressing Intensity
Off the ball, Chelsea’s pressing structure aimed to disrupt Leicester’s buildup:
- Neto led the press by cutting off passing lanes to Leicester’s left-sided defender.
- Enzo and Palmer tracked Leicester’s midfield pivots.
- Nkunku pressed Faes, while Sancho marked Kristiansen.
- Cucurella stayed close to his man to be ready to step in when needed.
- Caicedo was tasked with pressing El Khannouss and limiting his time on the ball.
Chelsea’s counter-press was particularly effective, with Neto, Palmer, and Enzo leading the charge to regain possession quickly after losing the ball. This ensured Leicester had minimal attacking sequences, with their only real chance coming from a mix-up between Tosin and Sánchez, which almost gifted Jamie Vardy a tap-in.
Second Half: Increased Pressing, Direct Play & Cucurella’s Goal
Chelsea stepped up their intensity in the second half, pressing more aggressively and focusing on winning the ball higher up the pitch to transition quickly into attack. This approach led directly to Cucurella’s goal—an excellent strike that capped off one of Chelsea’s fast attacking moves.
After Cucurella’s goal, Chelsea’s counter-attacks became even more direct, capitalizing on Leicester’s mistakes to create more chances. However, they failed to convert some promising opportunities that could have put the game beyond reach.
Substitutions and Game Management
Maresca made key changes in the second half:
- George replaced Palmer and moved to the right-wing.
- Sancho switched to the left.
- Nkunku operated as a No.10.
- Chalobah replaced Fofana in defense.
Chelsea then entered game management mode, successfully closing out the match without allowing Leicester a way back. The intensity from both the starters and substitutes ensured that the Foxes couldn’t find a breakthrough.
Conclusion: A Crucial Win for Chelsea
This win was a big statement for Chelsea as they push for a top-four finish, especially after Manchester City’s loss. The second-half pressing, direct transitions, and tactical tweaks made the difference, with Cucurella’s rocket proving to be the decisive moment.
With momentum building, Chelsea now shift their focus to their Conference League quarter-final push. Can they keep this form going and secure a strong finish to the season?
