3. The Ruben Loftus-Cheek revival
Taking all of the tactics mentioned above into account, one player was able to take advantage of the system and consequently, produce a revitalizing performance in front of the Stamford Bridge faithful. At first, seeing Ruben Loftus-Cheek as a wingback on the teamsheet was worrisome. A natural central midfielder playing in a vital position for both the attack and the defense will do that to an individual, but as the game went on, he proved he could get the job done.
The Englishman was in complete control the entire time both in and out of possession, as well as in central midfield or down the right flank. This was mainly because Spurs did not pose a threat on the wings and because Chelsea was able to provoke mistakes out of his opponents. This allowed Loftus-Cheek to use his physical prowess to retrieve the ball, make difficult tackles and provide support in the attack with his penetrative runs.
This performance could be the comeback everyone expected from Loftus-Cheek since he returned from his serious injury a couple of years ago. Although he may not always play in this position moving forward—as tactical plans always change—he can be useful to Tuchel. Loftus-Cheek can play in the midfield and now as a wide defender, giving him an edge over those players whose positions are set in stone. If he stays healthy, there is no reason why he cannot succeed this season as a deputy to Reece James as a right wingback and a rotational midfielder.
Although these were all positives one can take from the game, Chelsea only earned one point. Despite that rather unfair reality, it was a great performance from the team against a well-organized Tottenham side under Conte. The Blues earned this all with a referee who chose to look the other way. Nevertheless, it is safe to say, Chelsea has a bright future ahead of it.
What are three of the lessons you learnt in the match? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter!