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Chelsea predicted XI vs. Leicester City: Should Tuchel still use 3-4-2-1?

By Olaoluwa Nwobodo

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 15: Thiago Silva of Chelsea is challenged by Jamie Vardy of Leicester City during The Emirates FA Cup Final match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium on May 15, 2021 in London, England. A limited number of around 21,000 fans, subject to a negative lateral flow test, will be allowed inside Wembley Stadium to watch this year's FA Cup Final as part of a pilot event to trial the return of large crowds to UK venues. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 15: Thiago Silva of Chelsea is challenged by Jamie Vardy of Leicester City during The Emirates FA Cup Final match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium on May 15, 2021 in London, England. A limited number of around 21,000 fans, subject to a negative lateral flow test, will be allowed inside Wembley Stadium to watch this year's FA Cup Final as part of a pilot event to trial the return of large crowds to UK venues. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) /
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Chelsea’s English midfielder Mason Mount reacts after missing a chance during the English FA Cup final football match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium in north west London on May 15, 2021. (Photo by KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea’s English midfielder Mason Mount reacts after missing a chance during the English FA Cup final football match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium in north west London on May 15, 2021. (Photo by KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Hakim Ziyech (No. 22) Right attacking midfielder, Morocco

Hakim Ziyech will continue to divide opinions, but what he’ll also continue to do is create goal scoring chances. Unfortunately, that means taking risks in possession and giving the ball away. Mind, he wasn’t great, but he was the best of the three front men—not that it was hard to be.

On the season, Ziyech’s passing accuracy is 74.9 percent. You think that’s bad for a skilled passer? Bruno Fernandes’ is 73.9 percent. Kevin De Bruyne is an expert passer of the ball, yet his passing accuracy is 75.5 percent. This is because some passes are more difficult to make than others, these more difficult passes are crucial for chance creation. The more of those passes you attempt, the lower your completion rate will be, but also the more of them you’ll complete. Hence creating more chances. “He loses the ball often” is not criticism for a player tasked with creativity. No one ever created many clear cut chances making mainly short passes, except Thomas Muller.

Kai Havertz (No. 29) Center forward, Germany

Kai Havertz would have had more impact starting the FA Cup final instead of coming on as a sub. Havertz doesn’t have any special quality with which he can affect games when the team is chasing a goal. Callum Hudson-Odoi is an established crosser, Ziyech is very direct and Christian Pulisic is a very quick and effective dribbler. Havertz? Havertz is perfect for transition, running between and behind the opposition back lines and occupying spaces between the pressing lines. All of these things are features of a part of the match where both teams are still approaching the game to take the lead, not when a team is losing control, patience and trying to pour bodies forward to get the ball as close to the opposition’s goal as possible. His movement has been top class and he should have a chance to continue that.

Mason Mount (No. 19) Left attacking midfielder, England

Mason Mount was poor against Leicester in the final. He’s a very effective dribbler and positions himself to receive in very good positions. He also leads the press, which is an essential part of what Tuchel wants. He has been found wandering in some crucial games though. Many fans are really sensitive about criticizing him, as well, but when he doesn’t play well, its pointless skirting around the issue. One poor performance in a cup final doesn’t define him, not even a little bit, but a poor performance is a poor performance. He has been Chelsea’s most consistent player in the Premier League though, creating most big chances for the Blues in the league (11).

Next. Chelsea’s lack of plan B is still a massive weakness for the team. dark

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