Before we get into the main section of this article, let’s quickly roundup some Chelsea speculation from media sources. Starting with Leicester City star Wesley Fofana, the defender is the Blues’ top target. However, prioritising a standout Fox means you’ll pay the price: quality can be obtained but only at a premium. Incidentally, Paris Saint-Germain are also now interested, which could well lead to a bidding war between two powerful clubs. Now an approximate £75Million bid has supposedly been rejected by LCFC, CFC shall probably have to go to an astounding height to secure their wanted man.
Elsewhere in the ‘news’, the West London side are thought to fancy bringing in a right wingback to compete with and cover the potentially overworked Reece James. James is unlikely to ever lose his starting role while with Thomas Tuchel’s team, though protecting his output is quintessential to success. According to Jacob Steinberg, Chels’ are interested in acquiring one or the other of Southampton standout Kyle Walker-Peters, or Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries. Apparently the English side prefer Dumfries, though are yet to make an offer to Inter.
Three style changes Thomas Tuchel should make to his Chelsea team
OK, now that we have looked at a pair of areas the head coach would like to strengthen, we can briefly appraise the initial match of the campaign and suggest some alterations for the man in charge. At Everton, Chelsea didn’t produce a memorable display, yet always seemed fairly assured in protecting a slim margin against a struggling team. Against better opposition, there might perhaps have been a problem.
Fluidity
One way in which I envision more goals transpiring for the Blues, would be increased fluidity in the 3-4-3 or incarnation. Obviously I am not a part of the coaching staff who see all facets in person. And the previous sentiment especially applies as Tuchel is the one out there on the grind – so he is most likely aware of these points anyway.
Now, obviously it is easy to sit in an office whilst attempting to instruct and critique a master such as the German on his techniques. Yet an element which felt absent at times last season is smoothness in play progression, and it remains a matter.
Tuchel’s men, whether he was at Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain or in England, enjoy lengthier possessions. There is a need for impetus on occasion, and using specific stratagem to defeat differing adversaries would aid overall quality along with potency.
However, the versatility of the wingback formation and midfield rotating into different positions favoured by the former PSG boss, does ensure the type of system or influence I have described in some areas. Reece James, Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella match the calibre of their counterparts, so there is no issue there. What I would like to see is a step up in intensity in the final third coupled with an increasingly assured aura on the pitch.
Interchangeable attacking trio
As explained in detail by exceptional outlet The Coaches’ Voice, the preferred Tuchel way only works with a dynamic midfield. Therefore, if N’golo Kante or Jorginho underperform or cannot still be necessarily impactful, maybe Mateo Kovacic and Conor Gallagher could provide the necessary skill sets and energy.
Goals breed confidence, so allowing freedom for the more headstrong and independent athletes – like strikers and wingers – is appropriate. During contests, having an interchangeable front line might unlock other routes to goal.
Under the tutelage of the 48-year-old at Stamford Bridge, a solo goalscorer is generally accompanied by two No.10s. On occasion there are two up top; a false-nine is also now prevalent, which has worked extremely well – or was very fruitful – with Kai Havertz leading.
Incorporating Sterling and getting the best out of him is paramount. When with Guardiola, he was a wingman as opposed to a narrow placed attacker. Though the 27-year-old had licence to roam and consequently found himself in a constantly fortunate yet planned tap-in zone.
Can the Three Lions forward feature as a lone hitman or in a duo? Absolutely. I am suggesting that he could adapt to all three discussed capacities within a single fixture. The teammates joining him are equally important; Havertz and Mason Mount don’t leave the mind during that contemplation. Although Christian Pulisic slots into this structure and method fairly seamlessly, too.
Swift ruthlessness on the counterattack
Pressing may be the main aspect which comes to mind when observers consider the archetypal approach of Tuchel’s managerial work. Naturally pressuring opponents into mistakes by harrying them using speed and dedication – something lacking in the centreforward spot last term – is essential, nevertheless there are other staples of ‘TT’ as a tactician.
Defensively he is sound, as a former defender himself, so there is no need to dwell there with adequate personnel already on the roster, and hopefully more signings to come. A lesser known factor employed by the boss, in addition to previously mentioned tactics, is the counterattack.
On occasions when Tuchel teams have the advantage of a breakaway, they have been deadly in the past. Though I suspect the gaffer is sometime more concerned with stopping counter-attacks. And, as said before, that component is “central to Tuchel’s defensive philosophy”.
‘Gegenpress’, or counter-pressing, is something the three eminent EPL managers favour, but when the ball is simply turned over by rival attackers in a deeper area, a swifter transition is feasible. This minor intermittent refinement would undoubtedly aid the instant manner of Havertz, as well as Sterling.
I don’t see countering in this fashion as a lesser form of play artistically, if that even matters to elite managers. Certainly there are ways to showcase marvellous footballing skills as a side simultaneously create a goal capitalising. Pep Guardiola definitely does this to great acclaim and output at City.
Jurgen Klopp’s usage of this style is underrated and differs from tiki-taka, often beginning from two other sources. Accurately raking Trent Alexander-Arnold passes, or beautiful cross-field switches from or to Andy Robertson, start some of Liverpool’s most devastating attacking moves.
Competing with these two impressive clubs at the top of the Premier League table doesn’t require imitation, so I am not suggesting it. Though flexibility to deploy any type of strategy within any match is a necessity of diversity. Combining both techniques and playing the last two English top-flight winners at their own ‘games’ could be key to putting CFC back on top. Remember, this wasn’t a criticism of the very capable ‘Professor’, but merely a few observations.