Chelsea: Three lessons learnt against Spurs in preseason

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Chelsea’s Sierra Leonean-born English midfielder Trevoh Chalobah runs with the ball during the pre-season friendly football match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge in London on August 4, 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 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / 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 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, 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 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /

2. Thomas Tuchel knows most of his squad by now

For the most part, the squad for next season seems pretty settled. There are still a few yet to return and it’s unclear who makes way for them, but overall it’s safe to start making assumptions as to how Thomas Tuchel will fill out his 25 man roster as things currently stand.

Keeper solves itself. Edouard Mendy, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and new signing Marcus Bettinelli will fill out three of the 25 spots.

Defense is where things begin to get more complicated with the Jules Kounde transfer looming. Thiago Silva, Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger, and Cesar Azpilicueta are near sure bets. Kurt Zouma, at the moment, seems to be the closest to making way for Kounde. Furthermore, Trevoh Chalobah seems pretty likely to stay at this point. He’s featured a ton this preseason and played the most of any outfielder against Tottenham. Kounde may change his situation, but for now have him in the “keep” column. That’s nine spots total accounted for now.

At wingback, Reece James and Ben Chilwell will be two options. It gets complicated when looking at their deputies. Marcos Alonso has been earmarked as possibly part of a Romelu Lukaku deal. Callum Hudson-Odoi seems destined for wingback and Christian Pulisic has been playing there a lot this preseason as well. On the safe side, we’ll count this as four players, bringing the total to 13 spots.

In midfield, Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante, and Jorginho will have three of what is likely four spots. At the moment, Ruben Loftus-Cheek looks the most likely to get the final spot. Tiemoue Bakayoko finally got his chance against Spurs and looked like, well, Bakayoko. The count is now at 17.

The forwards are here things really heat up. Lukaku (or someone) seems inevitable. The new striker will join, at the very least, Mason Mount, Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz, and Timo Werner. The count is now 22.

That leaves three spots that a few players are going to fight over. It’s possible that Alonso and Zouma both remain somehow, even with signings. Tammy Abraham might be in the same boat. Perhaps more likely that that would be Tino Anjorin staying around the first team again. Emerson might take Alonso’s spot and Davide Zappacosta has been involved a fair bit for a player destined to leave again. Malang Sarr and Ethan Ampadu might also have distant shouts.

But, on the eve of the Super Cup, that still makes 22 spots that are covered out of the 25, pending the Kounde and Lukaku signings. It will be interesting to see how Chelsea fills out those last three seats but Tuchel’s already got most of his work done.

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