Chelsea’s 2025 Club World Cup Campaign – A Tactical Breakdown

Chelsea’s 2025 Club World Cup Campaign – A Tactical Breakdown

🗓️ Overview

• Tournament: FIFA Club World Cup 2025

• Group: Group D

• Teams: Chelsea, LAFC, Flamengo, ES Tunis

• Coach: Enzo Maresca

• Formation: 3-2-5 in attack / 4-2-3-1 in defense

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🏁 Match 1: Chelsea 2–0 LAFC (June 16 – Atlanta)

🔍 Tactics & Style:

• Formation: Maresca deployed a fluid 3-2-5 shape in possession, with inverted full-backs and wide wingers pulling LAFC apart.

• Pressing Triggers: Chelsea used midfield pressing traps, especially targeting LAFC’s build-up through the left.

• Tempo Control: Slow build-up with sudden vertical switches—playing through Enzo Fernández and Conor Gallagher.

🎯 Key Players:

• Pedro Neto: Scored a composed goal from inside the box; intelligent off-ball runs.

• Enzo Fernández: Dictated tempo, scored the second goal with a strong run and finish.

• Liam Delap: Young striker debuted with an assist and solid link-up play.

• Robert Sánchez: Calm distribution + a couple of crucial saves preserved the clean sheet.

🔢 Stats:

• Possession: 65%

• Shots: 17 (6 on target)

• Pass Accuracy: 91%

• xG: 2.04

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🚨 Match 2: Chelsea 1–3 Flamengo (June 20 – Philadelphia)

🧠 Tactical Shifts:

• Early Lead Strategy: Chelsea started strong with wide overloads and Neto’s opener in the 18′.

• Collapse Factors:

  • Red card to Nicolás Jackson (55′) completely shifted the momentum.

  • Defensive lines became stretched; Chelsea’s midfield could no longer compress spaces.

⚔️ Flamengo Response:

• Goals from Bruno Henrique, Danilo, and Wallace showed Flamengo’s ability to exploit wide space and fatigue.

• Chelsea struggled with defensive transitions—something they must fix before knockout rounds.

⚙️ Lessons Learned:

• Maresca’s side is fluid, but lacks resilience under high pressure and down a man.

• Tactical discipline broke down after the red card—need for more composure and structure late in games.

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🔜 Match 3 Preview: Chelsea vs. ES Tunis (June 25 – New Jersey)

• Scenario: A draw qualifies Chelsea for the knockout round.

• Tactical Adjustments Expected:

  • Jackson suspended → Possible use of Broja or Delap as striker.

  • Reintroduction of Reece James or Thiago Silva to tighten the backline.

  • More compact midfield shape if Chelsea aim to manage rather than dominate.

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🧩 Tactical Summary

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🌍 Final Thoughts

Chelsea’s 2025 Club World Cup run is still alive.

• Tactically smart under Maresca but lacking consistency under pressure.

• Squad depth (Neto, Delap, Gallagher) is promising.

• To win the title, Chelsea must evolve tactically—especially in late-game control and defensive transitions.