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Chelsea: Three lessons learnt as Thomas Tuchel’s era begins

By Vansh Ambashta

Paris Saint-Germain's German head coach Thomas Tuchel reacts during the French League Cup round of sixteen football match between Le Mans FC and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), on December 18, 2019, at the MMArena Stadium, in Le Mans, northwestern France. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
Paris Saint-Germain's German head coach Thomas Tuchel reacts during the French League Cup round of sixteen football match between Le Mans FC and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), on December 18, 2019, at the MMArena Stadium, in Le Mans, northwestern France. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Chelsea’s English midfielder Mason Mount runs with the ball during the English FA Cup fourth round football match between Chelsea and Luton Town at Stamford Bridge in London on January 24, 2021. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea’s English midfielder Mason Mount runs with the ball during the English FA Cup fourth round football match between Chelsea and Luton Town at Stamford Bridge in London on January 24, 2021. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images) /

2. Mason Mount is still Mr. Chelsea

Mason Mount was surprisingly left out the starting lineup against Wolves. Now, it would be wrong to read too much into the team selection against Wolves. After all, Tuchel had just taken one training session, and he went for experience.

In Frank Lampard’s reign, Mason Mount was always the first name on the team sheet, and I am pretty sure that will soon be the case in Tuchel’s era as well. Mount played matches week in week out without rests and was always one of the brightest players on the pitch. Against Wolves, Tuchel open for a midfield of Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho with Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech playing as inverted inverted forwards, in the space behind Olivier Giroud.

The system looked quite attractive in the beginning as Chelsea played some fast football and stretched the play wide through the wingbacks. However, as the game went on, the sideways passes increased from the midfield and it was clear that there was a lack of sting through the middle. While Kovacic and Jorginho are great midfielders, they need someone in front of them to link the attack and the defense properly.

light. Related Story. Chelsea: 3 results this season that justify Frank Lampard's sacking

Tuchel finally introduced Mason Mount in the final ten minutes of the game, and the future Chelsea captain showed (once again) why he needs to be the first name on the team sheet. Mount did exactly what was missing from the team prior to his introduction. He broke in between the lines and reached the opponent’s box on more than one occasion.

If Tuchel opts to stick with this 3-4-2-1/3-4-3/lopsided 4-2-3-1, then he must include Mason Mount in the pivot, or even as one of the inverted forwards. Mason Mount is still Mr. Chelsea, and seven minutes against Wolves was enough to give Tuchel a taste of the boy who has been around since the age of six.

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