Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea empire part three: Deadwood and management

Chelsea won the Champions League for the second time last month. When Chelsea won the title for the first time in 2012, it looked like a fitting end to a story, an era. The squad went through many ups and downs and ended up winning the trophy against all odds in the most dramatic fashion possible. It was the perfect farewell for a generation of players that carried Chelsea on their backs and played against the odds.

However, Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea is built differently. This team had a sense of ruthlessness throughout the tournament as they went head to head with some of the biggest sides and didn’t break a sweat. Be it Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, or even Manchester City. The Blues recognized their opponents, respected their prowess and their history, but frankly, they didn’t care about any of that.

The core set of players in the current setup are very young, and this squad has the potential to become a juggernaut as they enter their primes. The group is closely knit together, and the bond will only grow stronger as they play together. This point in time is a crucial juncture for the squad. As Tuchel looks to begin an era of dominance with Chelsea, he has to ensure that the club focuses on football and remains away from all sorts of distractions.

As Tuchel takes a look at the loan army, he will definitely pick a couple of players that will stay. Moreover, the club is likely to sign a big player or two this summer. To adjust the incoming players, Chelsea has to get rid of the fringe players. As the last season progressed, Tuchel’s set of trusted players kept getting smaller and smaller. It is only time before the other players start getting agitated again. Such situations always end up badly, as seen in the case of Lampard’s dismissal.

The likes of Emerson and Marcos Alonso have had some brilliant moments at Chelsea Football Club, and it is simply time to part ways with all due respect. Doing this would free up the wage bill and create space for the talents out on loan and in the academy.

Another aspect is regarding the contract extensions. Andreas Christensen should be tied down with a new deal as soon as possible. He has been in brilliant form this season, and with age on his side, he can only improve. Moreover, Christensen has shown great positional versatility in the Euro 2020, making him even more exciting. On the contrary, the situation surrounding Antonio Rudiger is more complicated than it seems. Rudiger seems insistent on signing a big contract as it might be the last lucrative deal of his career. However, Chelsea has a rigid and effective wage structure, and talks have not progressed according to multiple reports. The German has been in the brilliant form under Tuchel and deserves a hike. However, if he does ask for too much, it would be the right time to part ways and look at other defenders coming through the pipeline.

Chelsea has a chance to build an empire with Tuchel. The squad has achieved the pinnacle of club football at a young age, and things can only get better from here. The club has to bring a fresh approach to the market, and Tuchel needs to make crucial decisions as far as the academy and loan army is concerned. The following two months will be exciting as they have the potential to set the narrative for Tuchel’s tenure at the club.