Premier league experience should not be considered for Chelsea targets
Player instructions and roles
What is the manager telling the player to do? Many managers are clear about how they want their teams to play and what the role of each player is in that way of playing. Several managers and players are examples of that. Very few players maintain their performances across different systems and roles. Erling Haaland is an example of a player that can. At RB Salzburg, the Norwegian was tasked with playing as a target man playing with his back to goal, so the team could bounce the ball off him. He was superb in that role, holding the ball up very well, creating big chances and also scoring a lot. His role changed when he moved to Borussia Dortmund and Lucien Favre made him do more of running in behind.
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Haaland did that superbly too, however not every player is system-proof like that. Over 90% of players depend on the right system to perform well. Several Chelsea players are examples of this. Jorginho and Antonio Rudiger were looking like players out the door before Thomas Tuchel took over in January 2021. Tuchel made Rudiger a left centerback in a three centerback system rather than the right centerback in a two centerback formation. This, coupled with his instructions, made all the difference between Chelsea having a vulnerable defense and a solid one.
By putting several players in more suitable roles, Tuchel made these players perform at much higher levels, showing them to the world as much better players than they originally seemed. Why is this important? A narrative was already spreading that Jorginho was not cut out for Premier League football. Leading to many calling for players who have played in the league longer. If Tuchel hadn’t come in and showed that these players are capable of competing with the best, the narrative would have continued.