NWSL 2023: Analysing Chicago Red Stars’ poor defensive displays – scout report

The 2023 NWSL campaign is well underway and we are starting to see how each team is looking to play and which teams look like they could be challenging at the top of the league as well as those that could struggle this season. 

Chicago Red Stars have had a challenging start to the season, as they have already conceded 28 goals in their first 11 games. To put this into perspective, it is worth noting that they conceded the same number of goals throughout the entirety of last years regular season.

Chris Petrucelli, the current manager who took charge in February 2022, successfully led the team to a playoff spot last season. However, they are currently finding it difficult to regain their previous form. If they continue to concede goals at such an alarming rate, they are on track for a disappointing season that will be characterised by their struggles to prevent opponents from scoring.

This tactical analysis will take the form of a scout report where we look into the tactics that Petrucelli is implementing at Chicago Red Stars. Additionally, we will analyse what is causing the Red Stars to have so many defensive issues this season and offer ways in which they can limit the number of goals they concede. 

Defensive structure

In this section of the analysis, we will examine Red Stars defensive structure to gain insights into their setup during the defensive phase of play.

In the image above, taken from the game against OL Reign, the Chicago Red Stars can be seen settling into a back-five formation, with a four-player midfield consisting of two defensive midfielders and a lone attacker. Meanwhile, OL Reign, led by former Arsenal manager Laura Harvey, set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, which transformed into a 3-2-5 during their attacking phase. To counter this, the Red Stars adjusted their 3-4-3 formation to become a 5-4-1 or a 5-2-2-1 in the defensive phase.

Figure 1.2 showcases Chicago lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, which transitions into more of a 4-2-3-1 shape when defending. However, a recurring issue arises in this particular scenario; some players leave their defensive positions to press the opponents, and only one or two Red Stars players move forward, making it remarkably easy for the opposition to manoeuvre around them.