3. Tactical foul like a Guardiola team would do
If Jorginho makes it through the game without a yellow card, either Chelsea had one of the greatest performances in their history or he failed at the one thing he normally needs no encouragement or instruction to do.
Chelsea will need all their dark arts to slow down Bayern Munich, but it will not be enough to go through the motions of a tactical foul.
In the first half on Sunday, RB Leipzig’s Konrad Lamier pulled back on Davies’ shirt, stretching the fabric to the utmost yet having no impact on Davies’ speed, movement or subsequent pass. The referee played the advantage, and later gave Lamier a yellow for the foul that accomplished absolutely nothing other than to make a late-game questionable tackle by Lamier on Benjamin Pavard a bit worrisome since he was already on a booking.
There will be many times when Bayern Munich bring their counterattack across midfield where maybe two or three Blues are in some sort of proximity to their opponents. In those situations, the Blues need to hack and haul them down. It won’t be enough to tug, pull, slide or bump. Chelsea will need to ensure the player is on the ground or the whistle goes before they cease their infraction. Otherwise, Bayern will get a scoring chance and Chelsea will get an empty booking.
If anyone is unclear how this is done, just look to the team coached by the man who invented every aspect of football except tactical fouling: Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
The referee may give Chelsea players a series of warnings before reaching into his pocket. Each player needs to take the referee’s leeway to the limits.
Jorginho will likely be the first in the book. Hopefully he will make it into the second half before seeing yellow. Soon after it happens, Frank Lampard needs to bring him off, since Jorginho doesn’t understand the cautionary aspects of the card.
The Blues cannot risk playing any part of the game with 10 men, especially if it’s because Jorginho adds a late time-wasting infraction to his earlier, necessary discipline.