In the blink of an eye, it is clear that the new ownership group is not messing around one bit, and just 99 days after taking over for Chelsea, Thomas Tuchel is out the door.
From sitting on top of the world last year at the beginning of February to losing to GNK Dinamo Zagreb in the opening match of the Champions League group stage, Tuchel has experienced it all as the lead man for a club going through unprecedented turmoil toward the conclusion of last season. As star midfielder N’Golo Kante begins to add even more wear and tear on his body above the age of 30, the Blues are missing arguably the most essential piece that led them to a Champions League crown just a few months after Tuchel took the helm.
Kante finished the Champions League season in 2020/21 playing the most matches of any Chelsea player including the goalkeepers, and was top five on the Blues for total successful pressures in the defensive, attacking, and middle third of the pitch. The Frenchman has given everything in the tank for CFC during the past two seasons under Tuchel, and since Kante departed the pitch in the 84th minute of an intense match against Spurs, the Blues have conceded nine goals while netting just four in all competitions. As he still recovers from a hamstring injury, Chelsea is still in the dark about when its dynamic midfielder will make his much-needed return.
In early May of last season, Tuchel expressed his thoughts on what Kante means to the club as a whole, stating, “I think he is our key, key player but key, key players have to be on the pitch and he only plays 40% of games…He is our Mo Salah, he is our van Dijk, he is our De Bruyne. He is simply that player, he is our Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.”
With a player that is not as mobile in the middle of the pitch like Jorginho, the Blues need Kante to complement the attributes that the Italian brought to CFC during its Champions League Final run. Even with creative players on the ball like Mateo Kovacic, and Conor Gallagher at its disposal, there is not a single player on the planet that can match what Kante brings when he is 100 percent healthy in the middle of the park.
Mason Mount was the only player that had more goal-creating actions than Kante last season in all competitions. By far the most impressive statistic that highlights his importance is the fact that he finished the season with 12 live-ball passes that led to a goal which was the most on Chelsea, and tied for the sixth most in the entire Premier League. Kante also finished the season with the sixth most shot-creating actions in the English top-flight, and with the number of chances coming at a premium, it is clear what the Blues need to begin to turn the rollercoaster start into more of a consistent one.
Tuchel’s sacking may have been controversial, but the first 45 minutes against Tottenham was what Chels’ should have looked like constantly, and without his mysterio’s influence on both ends of the pitch, Tuchel found himself in a tough position trying to cover up a hole that is far too large to repair in such a short amount of time. His health and age do not allow him to play a full 90 minutes of football anymore, and while the sacking of Tuchel does seem a little rushed, the identity of who the Blues truly are without Kante has clearly been revealed. Midfield is arguably the largest area of need for Chelsea with both Kante, and Jorginho’s contracts coming to an end at the conclusion of the season.
Tuchel was a master when it came to cup competitions, and Kante was the player that he continued to turn to when he needed a spark in a win-or-go-home situation. A new era at Chelsea Football Club has begun, and with the time officially up for Tuchel, the time begins to tick away at how long Kante will be in west London. Goal-scoring, and a whole lot of individual mistakes combined with a porous midfield highlight just a few of the Blues’ issues so far this season. Kante may have not solved all of them, but his presence and experience would have helped alleviate some of the problems that CFC has been creating itself. An unknown timeline is not one that gives the Blues much hope, and with Tuchel now out the door, there are even more questions than answers when it comes to the club that conquered the world less than a year ago.