Chelsea: Three lessons learnt in another Brighton draw
By Travis Tyler
Brighton has Chelsea’s number. Thomas Tuchel’s at least. And really only up to the point of drawing. But in three matches against the Seagulls, Tuchel’s Chelsea has drawn 0-0, 1-1, and 1-1 again. In this meeting especially, Chelsea can count themselves lucky to have shared honors with Graham Potter’s side.
One video game goal by the ever enthusiastic Hakim Ziyech aside, Chelsea was the second best team. Brighton controlled the narrative and if any team can be disappointed by the draw, it is them.
It’s back to the drawing board for Thomas Tuchel. What lessons can he take away from this match?
1.Forboding signs as the malaise continues
When things are bad at Chelsea, there is usually one clear sign they are about to get worse. The ball will be cycled around the back again and again as the defenders desperately look for a forward passing options. There won’t be any, however, as every player ahead of the defense is standing statue still waiting for someone else to do the work. This is an issue that tends to get worse, not better, over time.
Jose Mourinho saw it, Antonio Conte saw it, Maurizio Sarri saw it, Frank Lampard saw it, and now Thomas Tuchel is seeing it. In a one game vacuum, it can just be tiredness. But this vacuum has extended since January. A similar poor run of from December and into January was enough to see Lampard sacked. Tuchel shouldn’t fear that as the table and other factors are much kinder, but these things don’t suddenly just happen. It’s a snowball effect and this type of terrible play is often the thing that most clearly points to the ball rolling.
Add in the current back and forth about Romelu Lukaku and Mason Mount’s “fire” eyes after being dropped and it’s not hard to look at previous Chelsea managers and see where this could go. It shouldn’t, and the club should back Tuchel. But the club has not shown a willingness to go through the same growing pains Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City or Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool did. If the signs are starting now, Tuchel will need support more than ever if he is to avoid the usual end result for Chelsea managers.