Three lessons learnt in Chelsea vs Spurs: Questions answered
By Hugo Amaya
2. Questions have been answered
A back four, a dynamic attack and a dominant performance for 90 minutes; these were all concerns fans had heading into this massive six-point match. Now, all of these questions have been answered and, yes, it is all possible. Many questions surrounded Tuchel’s Chelsea in recent weeks, but the main one was whether or not the German coach could have his players adapt to a back four or at least try it. Against Spurs, it worked perfectly. Cesar Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva, Antonio Rudiger and Malang Sarr outdid themselves with the new formation. Spurs were hardly a threat with a total of six shots (only three on target) and no big chances created throughout the entire match. The back line also deserve some credit for their help as Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ziyech, as stated, did their fair share of defending throughout the contest.
Despite not having its usual wingbacks, Chelsea still utilized the wide areas effectively. Between Hudson-Odoi, Ziyech, Mason Mount and Azpilicueta, the bylines were busy parts of the pitch. This allowed for Lukaku to take different positions and approaches on how to deal with the opposition’s defense. Whether it was to drift to the sides, drop deep or simply stay in the middle and bully defenders, this formation and tactics allowed him to do it all.
All of that said, it was a dominant performance throughout the entire match from the home side. The Blues controlled 65 percent of possession with accurate, quick and fluent passes. The defense was not in any danger—except for that one chance from Harry Kane—the midfield distributed the passes and created attacking plays and the forwards were alert and effective. Therefore, it is fair to say the new formation suits Chelsea very well going forward. Tuchel’s promised tactical flexibility is now coming to the surface and the possibilities are endless.