Chelsea predicted XI: 3-4-3 is put through the press test

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Chelsea’s English midfielder Callum Hudson-Odoi (L) pulls away from Arsenal’s English midfielder Joe Willock during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium in London on December 26, 2020. (Photo by Julian Finney / POOL / 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 JULIAN FINNEY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Callum Hudson-Odoi (No. 20) Right wing back, England

Hudson-Odoi would be the most grateful to the new gaffer, as he was getting a lot less appearances than he should have under the former manager. He knows that there are players who’d give anything to get his minutes in the side now and he’s playing like it. He has showed why he should be starting and Tuchel agrees. Hudson-Odoi has been able to maximize his strengths out wide and work on the defensive side of his game. He probably would prefer a more advanced role with less defensive responsibility, but he’d also prefer this to sitting on the bench or watching from the stands.

Jorginho (No. 5) Central midfielder, Italy

Jorginho has also been playing well, albeit against teams that have let us keep the ball, but he has been playing well. He has also been helped by the addition of an extra centerback. He has been really professional with the way he has handled his absence from the starting lineup in the months leading up to Lampard’s sacking. He never gave interviews sending subliminal messages to the club or the head coach about his playing time. He arrived at Stamford Bridge on the same day Maurizio Sarri did, supporting the idea that he was part of the Sarri deal. However, he came with a certain reputation and he seemed to have been underwhelming having not lived up to that reputation, but the hype is not his fault. He has contributed his fair share to Chelsea, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

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Mateo Kovacic (No. 17) Central midfielder, Croatia

Kovacic has been playing like a new man. He is playing in a double pivot and it seems like the new role suits him well. He didn’t get consistent minutes under Lampard but now he seems to be exactly what Tuchel needs. He completed a ridiculous 8 dribbles in the match against Newcastle, and has been Chelsea’s best performer under Tuchel, according to WhoScored. The change of formation and inclusion of Jorginho means that while he still has to contribute his fair share to defending, like every other player, he’s no longer directly responsible for protecting the backline because there are three centerbacks and a defensive midfielder for that. He can focus on driving forward with the ball and distributing it to more dangerous areas of the pitch.

Marcos Alonso (No. 3) Left wing back, Spain

Speaking of a player that is comfortable in a formation that won the Blues their last league title, Marcos Alonso has looked like his 2016/17 self again. He has been doing all the good things he’s known for, especially against Newcastle. He got into a lot of good positions and he had very good communication with Timo Werner, his same side winger. He made a surprise return to the side and he has played very well, unlike someone who has not had any football for 5 months. It is good to see Alonso playing well again because when he is, he’s a weapon that the opposition simply cannot deal with.

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