The Tuchel Thread

[milka 3,390]

 

[OneMoSalah 8,883]

I wonder if Franks sitting at home thinking this team is still not ready to be contenders also. Hate to say it but he seriously underestimated how having the right mentality can spur a team on as much as tactics or players. Like I said in the match thread, that performance was only 2/3 goals off one of the best European performances I have seen from us, ever. Not even overstating it. Like if that game finished 3/4/5-0 nobody would have batted an eyelid.

Edited May 5, 2021 by OneMoSalah

[!Hazard! 3,394]

34 minutes ago, Jas said:

I wonder if Guardiola will try to be a tad more pragmatic in the final. Can't imagine him leaving City getting exposed so much on the break.

And with us facing them this weekend, this could turn into some sort of chess match between Guardiola and Tuchel, in the bigger picture.

I think he will and I think it will be our advantage. Usually when Pep starts to tinker with his team for a big game it all falls apart

[Superblue 6,372]

Absolutely incredible what he has done since joining the club. I was sceptical about appointing him due to the bridges seemingly burned at Dortmund and PSG but he comes across so well, and I think certainly compared to PSG there's a better structure in place here for him.

Very few managers talk so positively about their team in public. He said we'd be a team no one wants to play against and he said we were capable of winning now. He has instilled massive confidence and belief in this group and what we've already achieved this season bodes well moving forward.

If we were to win the Champions League this isn't an end of an era swansong like 2012, this could legitimately be the first of multiple over the next few years. The nucleus is there and we've got a world class manager to boot.

[Vesper 30,079]

Tuchel's tactical tinkering explained

Wednesday May 5 2021 Matt Law's Chelsea briefing

Formation changes against Fulham show head coach's desire to avoid second-season stagnation By Matt Law, Football News Correspondent Thomas Tuchel dropped a hint, in the victory over Fulham, that the solution to Chelsea’s striker issue may not solely rest on signing Erling Haaland or Romelu Lukaku. Faced with the task of keeping his squad fresh for tonight's Champions League semi-final second-leg against Real Madrid, Tuchel not only tinkered with his team but also his formation. And sources close to Tuchel believe that he is already considering a range of potential formations for next season, as he attempts to maintain and improve the momentum built up since his arrival in January. While Tuchel stuck with a hugely successful back three last weekend, he managed to find a way of accommodating Timo Werner and Kai Havertz as what he described as “double strikers”. This meant that Chelsea effectively lined up in a 3-3-2-2, which, in the second half, changed to a 3-4-1-2 when Mason Mount dropped back to help Billy Gilmour anchor the midfield and Hakim Ziyech played directly behind Werner and Havertz. While the system was tough on Gilmour in the first 45 minutes, Werner and Havertz certainly enjoyed it as the pair combined brilliantly for the second of Havertz’s two goals. Despite an excellent display against Crystal Palace, Havertz has not looked entirely comfortable playing as a false nine on his own, while it has been obvious for some time that Werner does not flourish as a lone central striker. Haaland or Lukaku could, of course, play on their own up front but if Chelsea don’t manage to sign either man then it seems that Tuchel is looking at other ways of bringing the best out of what he has got. That does not mean Chelsea will not try to sign a striker if they cannot land either of their top two targets, but the signs are that Tuchel could look to vary his formation to increase his team’s attacking threat. “In the summer we will think further on and think together with the club about what solutions are the best solutions for us,” said Tuchel last month. “Is it the best solution to stay with our squad? Is it the best solution to stay in the formation that we have? Can we improve? Can we improve on the training pitch individually and as a group to create more big chances? These are the questions for June.” Those who know Tuchel believe he would like to be able to play a variation of a 4-2-4 formation for certain games next season, but that may depend on whether or not Chelsea sign a new central defender who is more comfortable than their current crop in a back four. Such a line-up would allow Tuchel to keep the two No 6s on whom he relies so heavily while playing two strikers with two advanced midfielders either side of them. Out of possession, one of the strikers, such as Havertz or Werner, could drop back. The 4-3-3 that former head coaches Frank Lampard and Maurizio Sarri favoured has not been completely thrown out, either, and returning to that line-up for games or spells in the future has not been ruled out if Chelsea can make the right signings. Changing his team has become a feature of Tuchel’s management so far, but the German has largely kept the same system and it has paid dividends. But, after winning the Premier League title, Chelsea became predictable in their second season under Antonio Conte and it would appear that has not gone unnoticed by the latest head coach. Got a question on Chelsea? Get in touch on Twitter @Matt_Law_DT or by emailing [email protected]

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

49 minutes ago, milka said:

 

Keep calm, we have won nothing yet. The big ones are yet to come.

It is a great moment but my celebrations will be subdued until we lift the damn trophies. 

[NikkiCFC 8,285]

We are very happy but still 6 games to go...

 We can end up with 2 trophies and 3rd place or zero trophies and no CL. So stay focus! Most important games are coming!

[Superblue 6,372]

 

[milka 3,390]

 

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

10 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

We are very happy but still 6 games to go...

 We can end up with 2 trophies and 3rd place or zero trophies and no CL. So stay focus! Most important games are coming!

This. Clutch time is still to come. We are slight favourites vs Leicester and massive outsiders vs City. Our league run-in could not be harder compared to the Spammers' so the team will have to grow even more. In the end it will also be a huge physical burden. 

[NikkiCFC 8,285]

3rd CL final. Grant, RDM and Tuchel. All came during the season. Even Hiddink should do it but Ovrebo stopped him. Can you blame me for not being a fan of building things for years like Klopp?

[different level 1,056]

Our 3rd UCL final, but unlike the last two times I can say we have a proper tactician who massively contributed to this achievement. However everything is still up for grabs in all fronts so we shouldn't lose focus.

Edited May 6, 2021 by different level

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

Moskau, Munich, Baku now Istanbul - we have a mixed record in dictatorship cities lol

[Tomo 21,751]

Looking at our recent schedule combined with our upcoming fixtures we will probably have to heavily rotate in one of the games coming up and give most if not all the nailed on starters a rest.

The way I see it there's one of two games we can do it.

1) We write off this weekend's game against City and throw our eggs into the basket of the last three games where maximum points will be enough for top 4.

or

2) We do it at home to Arsenal next week and cross our fingers the Tuchel factor combined with their mediocrity will be enough.

Which one's best?

[iseah100 5,612]

2 hours ago, Tomo said:

Looking at our recent schedule combined with our upcoming fixtures we will probably have to heavily rotate in one of the games coming up and give most if not all the nailed on starters a rest.

The way I see it there's one of two games we can do it.

1) We write off this weekend's game against City and throw our eggs into the basket of the last three games where maximum points will be enough for top 4.

or

2) We do it at home to Arsenal next week and cross our fingers the Tuchel factor combined with their mediocrity will be enough.

Which one's best?

Wish we could. Top 4 is still up in the air. Can't really mail in the PL nor can we mail in the FA Cup final. Just win out and call it a day. 

[Milan 17,955]

I don't actually mind having all those tough fixtures. It will keep the players at it, if you get my wave. The 'exciting' bubble. The heat of the moment. While City can rest all their players until the Istanbul fixture. And I actually wish, really wish that Pep rests the hell out of them. Something like the Chelsea v Arsenal EL final in Baku. Arsenal players with a long rest, while we decided to play a friendly instead.

[Tomo 21,751]

3 minutes ago, iseah100 said:

Wish we could. Top 4 is still up in the air. Can't really mail in the PL nor can we mail in the FA Cup final. Just win out and call it a day. 

 

Just now, Milan said:

I don't actually mind having all those tough fixtures. It will keep the players at it, if you get my wave. The 'exciting' bubble. The heat of the moment. While City can rest all their players until the Istanbul fixture. And I actually wish, really wish that Pep rests the hell out of them. Something like the Chelsea v Arsenal EL final in Baku. Arsenal players with a long rest, while we decided to play a friendly instead.

Oh it is definitely better overall but with the games coming up i feel there needs to be atleast one we rest the core players or we risk going too close into the Jose 15 run in territory where our players become tanked and ran on fumes.

A CL semi on a Wednesday, Man City Saturday, London derby Wednesday, FA Cup final vs a top 4 rival Saturday plus potential top 4 decider vs the same team Tuesday/Wednesday is a mental schedule and i doubt even Mount will be able to play every minute here.

[iseah100 5,612]

3 minutes ago, Tomo said:

 

Oh it is definitely better overall but with the games coming up i feel there needs to be atleast one we rest the core players or we risk going too close into the Jose 15 run in territory where our players become tanked and ran on fumes.

A CL semi on a Wednesday, Man City Saturday, London derby Wednesday, FA Cup final vs a top 4 rival Saturday plus potential top 4 decider vs the same team Tuesday/Wednesday is a mental schedule and i doubt even Mount will be able to play every minute here.

True enough. Ideally the team would be able to play less crucial players versus Aston Villa as we (ideally) would have won the FA Cup and have 4th locked up. If the boys can beat City and Arsenal, a tough task for sure, then that will solve the problem. Worst case scenario is we need to beat Aston Villa for top 4 and can't rest anyone before the final.