Blues clues: Chelsea and Thomas Tuchel dropped the ball versus Leeds

By Varun Dani | Mar 14, 2021

Leeds United's Macedonian midfielder Ezgjan Alioski (L) vies with Chelsea's US midfielder Christian Pulisic during the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Chelsea at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on March 13, 2021. - 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 Laurence Griffiths / 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. / 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 LAURENCE GRIFFITHS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

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LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 08: Timo Werner of Chelsea reacts after Jordan Pickford of Everton denies him from scoring during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Everton at Stamford Bridge on March 08, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by John Sibley – Pool/Getty Images) /

3. Untimely substitutions

After his team selection misgivings, Tuchel had the chance to right his wrongs with his substitutions. His first substitution of bringing on James for Pulisic was the right call, it brought back the balance the team needed. The same cannot be said for the two that followed.

Mount and Ziyech were individually having good games, particularly the latter. The Moroccan’s performance was a welcome improvement from his recent games, as he created three chances while on the field, more than any other player. All he needed was an explosive runner who constantly exploits the space created by Havertz; Timo Werner. And while Werner did make his bow, it was the cost of the player who would’ve best utilized him; Ziyech.

But there was still a chance that Mount would recalibrate and link up with Werner, he was well capable of it. He even tried to play Werner in behind a couple of times, with the tide turning back in Chelsea’s favor. But in a space of 10 mins after Werner’s arrival, Mount was hooked off for Hudson-Odoi, whose attributes are closer to those of the German forward than the English midfielder.

The result? Chelsea played the last 15 minutes of the game with plenty of runners and no creators to pick them out, the reserve of the first 70 minutes of the games, and came out with a measly point.

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