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Chelsea predicted XI: Thomas Tuchel’s 3-4-3 in 2031

By Gabe Henderson

Chelsea's German head coach Thomas Tuchel (R) and Chelsea's Scottish midfielder Billy Gilmour (Photo by LAURENCE GRIFFITHS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea's German head coach Thomas Tuchel (R) and Chelsea's Scottish midfielder Billy Gilmour (Photo by LAURENCE GRIFFITHS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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STAMFORD BRIDGE, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 2019/10/30: Marc Guehi of Chelsea seen in action during the Carabao Cup Round of 16 match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in London.(Final score; Chelsea 1:2 Manchester United). (Photo by Richard Calver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
STAMFORD BRIDGE, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 2019/10/30: Marc Guehi of Chelsea seen in action during the Carabao Cup Round of 16 match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in London.(Final score; Chelsea 1:2 Manchester United). (Photo by Richard Calver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) /

Goalkeeper: Nathan Baxter (32)

Let’s preface this selection by saying the goalkeeper position is one the Blues would be most concerned about if they were prohibited from making moves for a decade. That is not a knock on Nathan Baxter or any other shot stopper in Chelsea’s ranks, but rather a compliment to the other areas. Baxter is undeniably the Blues’ best keeper not in the first team right now. A major injury ended his season at Accrington Stanley, he’s on his way to redemption with Hull City for the next year though. Baxter’s maturity at 32 will provide stability for Tuchel’s back line, so he gets the nod.

Right centerback: Marc Guehi (30)

This may raise a few eyebrows. For many people, their experience watching Marc Guehi has seen him make the left centerback spot his own in Swansea City’s back three. He has spent the better part of the last two years helping the Swans inch closer and closer to the Premier League once again. It seems as if he’ll either remain at Stamford Bridge or head to a top flight club on loan for the coming season, so his time in Wales looks to be over. Nevertheless, his stint with the Championship side was wildly successful and it helped him blossom into one of the Blues’ best defensive prospects. Guehi is right-footed though, so having him occupy the right centerback position in Tuchel’s back three simply makes sense. It’s not a knock on his abilities either, he’s just not left-footed like the defender occupying Guehi’s former spot.

Centerback: Xavier Mbuyamba (29)

This will undoubtedly be one of the most controversial picks on this list given the lack of experience the player has at a top level. Xavier Mbuyamba is special though. The Dutch giant is a monster at the back and once he is fully recovered from his injury and back in form, one can’t help but feel like he’ll break through into the first team sooner rather than later. The 19-year-old seldom played in his maiden campaign with the Chelsea developmental side, but he showed a lot of promise at Barcelona. The fact that the Blues and the Blaugrana wanted the centerback in their academies tells you everything you need to know. Mbuyamba is the tall, adept defensive anchor that every three-man defense needs in the middle.

Left centerback: Levi Colwill (28)

Back to the man who inspired the entire piece. Colwill gets the nod at left centerback solely due to the fact he’s left-footed. As mentioned above, Guehi was fantastic in this specific position, but Colwill’s inclusion here gives Tuchel’s side a bit more flexibility. Colwill is really going to impress some people when he debuts in the Championship in a few weeks’ time. His future is bright and it’s only a matter of time before we see him proudly sporting the Chelsea badge on the Stamford Bridge grass.

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