Chelsea's out-of-possession imbalance was evident within the first minute: - Numerous players having to move large distances for their man-oriented references, especially the backline. Cucurella (LWB) has to push onto the Brighton RB, Hato (LCB) is on Minteh (RW), and a center-back (Fofana or Chalobah) has track Hinshelwood (CAM). - A passive high block with man-oriented references allows Brighton to not only easily retain possession with a 1 but also manipulate the Chelsea high block. Specifically, as pointed out during the game, the Brighton holding midfielders kept providing below and beyond runs while Hinshelwood also kept dropping into midfield. Chelsea found it hard to cope with these constant movements. - Further, when Chelsea's frontline pressers tried jumping on the Brighton keeper (Verbruggen), due to the wide position of the center-backs, the keeper would have enough time to find a direct pass or through third-man combinations. - The latter was also assisted by Brighton's holding midfielders who'd have space as Chelsea's defensive midfielders (Caicedo and Lavia) weren't tight enough all the time. Rosenior and also Maresca prefers them not to be touch-tight for other reasons (link attached below). But during the game, I thought Hinshelwood's movement also may have made them hesitate. Reference link: x.com/fahdahmed987/status/20… Overall, this set up from Rosenior didn't work at all. The out-of-possession passivity allowed Brighton to control the game from the start. Brighton were also intense defensively to prevent Chelsea from building momentum as well.

I think Girona's LHS is their North direction in ball progression from the back and threat to opponents. With Miguel as an inverted middifielder will be easy for em to exploit the space left by Yamal's jumping. the problem is "Kounde will be doubled" as in previous games...👇

Hii sio wewe kwlei? Maana umeolewa ‘mwezi uliopita’ 😅😂