Frank Lampard picked out midfielder Mason Mount and Ross Barkley as a key reason for the tactical approach working so well in the victory over London rivals Tottenham.
The England duo played in a more advanced role, operating behind lone striker Olivier Giroud as Chelsea played with two wing-backs and without any recognised wingers.
The Frenchman scored the opening goal after Barkley’s shot had come back of the post. And full-back Marcos Alonso thumped in the second after a fine team move involving both Barkley and Mount.
“Oli has got his fitness and you could see 70 minutes was tough for him,” Lampard said at his post-match press conference. “But what you do get with Oli is quality. You know his attributes.
“Mason and Ross around him helps with their energy and then you know he can finish. In a game where I expected Tottenham to be deep – which they were in the first half – you know you can find him and he can bring people into the game.
“Marcos’s finish was top-drawer as well and that’s what a squad needs. It’s not easy to make selections when people are not playing. You need to trust that they’re good professionals and both of them [Alonso and Giroud] have been in all ways so I’m delighted for them.’
“When Oli is playing, you have to play to his strengths. You have to put balls into the box, use him to bring people into the game.
“The system only works if Ross and Mason are so mobile around Oli up front and give you a threat behind as well. The system only works if the back three don’t sit off and allow people to turn on the ball because they’re playing with two false strikers.
“We work on it but it’s the players who enforce it and they make the system work.”