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Bold predictions for Chelsea and the Premier League in 2022/23

By The Pride of London Staff

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JULY 23: Jorginho of Chelsea passes the ball whilst under pressure from Granit Xhaka of Arsenal during the Florida Cup match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Camping World Stadium on July 23, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JULY 23: Jorginho of Chelsea passes the ball whilst under pressure from Granit Xhaka of Arsenal during the Florida Cup match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Camping World Stadium on July 23, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 16: Manager Thomas Tuchel of Chelsea looks on prior to his team’s preseason friendly match against Club América at Allegiant Stadium on July 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 16: Manager Thomas Tuchel of Chelsea looks on prior to his team’s preseason friendly match against Club América at Allegiant Stadium on July 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

9. What will be the wackiest personnel decision made by Thomas Tuchel?

Abhishek: KAI Havertz at centerback. He is tall and he can handle himself. What more do you need in a Premier League centerback, amirite? He can also chip in with a goal or two when needed.

Anthony: Ruben Loftus-Cheek or Raheem Sterling at wingback.

Barrett: It’s hard to suggest anyone being more out of position than the sort of thing that has become regular for Tuchel at this point. Ben Chilwell is going to get time at LCB this season and it’s really not crazy that he plays wingers in the wingback position. The modern wingback is just an old-school winger. Ruben Loftus-Cheek at wingback was an interesting move.

Bryan: This is a two-way tie for me—I think Connor Gallagher and Mason Mount will both be used across the formation. Specifically, I could see Gallagher and Mount both being used one the wing, as a false nine and in the double pivot. Both of these players have the versatility to be successful anywhere and Tuchel will be willing to move them around once new attackers are brought in.

Caden: Christian Pulisic and/or Raheem Sterling at wingback. Sterling as a wingback would not surprise me, and neither would Pulisic in that position once again. Tuchel loves the wingback position in general and if he convinces Sterling that it is not attack-centric, it could happen.

Gabe: Carney Chukwuemeka as a false nine, anyone? As things stand on August 5, Chelsea is short of real options as a No. 9. Armando Broja and Kai Havertz will either be injured, not in the line-up or brought off already when the young Chukwuemeka gets his opportunity to lead the line late in one of the Blues’ matches.

Leighton: Mason Mount at left wingback. Somewhere during the season in a must-not-lose match Thomas Tuchel will play Mount as a LWB. Mount tends to track back well last season on occasions and moves well up and down the field.

Mike: This one is tricky. The obvious choice is Christian Pulisic being used as a wingback, which he did multiple times last season, but I want to be more adventurous. If he stays at Chelsea, I predict Emerson will be deployed at left winger as he was during the Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid in 2020/21. The Italian international’s left foot isn’t as good as Marcos Alonso’s, but he can give the ball a whack with pace and accuracy.

Nate: N’Golo Kante as a false nine. If Thomas Tuchel wants to press, he could do worse than throwing Kante up top to lead the charge. Kante’s also always been an under-appreciated creator, and using him as a hub for Kai Havertz, Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling to play around could be a unique twist that works around Chelsea’s distinct allergy to even the idea of a conventional center forward.

Olaoluwa: Armando Broja at right wingback. This is a difficult question to answer because fans have seen Thomas Tuchel play a plethora of players in a plethora of positions. Broja is fast though, so he may play at the right wing forward sometimes, and in a bid to fill in for Reece James occasionally, the Albanian may find himself playing as a wingback.

Tom: Ruben Loftus-Cheek in goal. He’s a towering, seeming guy who already did it as wingback from nowhere.

Travis: Raheem Sterling at right wingback. Wingback for Tuchel just means widest attacking player, so don’t be surprised if Sterling suits up as a RWB at some point this season (also don’t be surprised if it’s clearly not a good idea and Tuchel never does it more than once).

Varun: Reece James as a striker when Chelsea signs Karim Benzema in January for £150 million, but he logically becomes the second-coming of Burak Yilmaz, leaving Thomas Tuchel with no other options.

Yi Hao: Raheem Sterling as a false nine. Sterling is an out-and-out winger for me, and I do not think he necessarily has the height necessary for a typical centre forward—a clear indication that Sterling will somehow end up playing there this season.

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