Clean slates and best mates
Under Thomas Tuchel every player will be given a chance to impress, and it was all smiles back at The Bridge again on Sunday
Just one normal week at Chelsea Football Club, that’s all we ask for!
Well, there is never a dull moment at this club, and this past week has been nothing short of dramatic, emotional, sad, and happy all mixed into one.
Frank Lampard was sacked and in came Thomas Tuchel, a tactical genius who is obsessed with the game of football.
Reports of player unrest was rife, and there were mixed reactions from fans around the globe. Some were upset about Lampard being sacked, with banners saying ‘Circus’ put up around Stamford Bridge for Tuchel’s first game in charge on Tuesday.
As I understand, there has certainly been a tension in the air amongst some players during the reign of Frank Lampard, and of course many players have been very unhappy about not being picked by the boss.
Whatever has happened, Lampard somewhat lost some of his more experienced players and it created a ripple affect throughout the squad. There has been an atmosphere brewing up, and in my opinion, this has often showed on the pitch in intensity and energy levels - a good few players have been unhappy.
But with Tuchel comes clean slates for all, and a fresh chance for every single player within this squad to impress and to play.
Now for me, this is understandable and a positive move. Bringing players back in who have been frozen out (which may or may not have been their faults), and making his own judgement on them as players and as people around the camp and what they bring, is more than a wise move.
And yesterday’s 2-0 win over Burnley was very much a case of clean slates and best mates. They looked happy, they looked collective, there was a team spirit, and energy, and there was a fight from every single player - something we haven’t really seen across the board for some time.
The irony of course is the two goals came from players who haven’t been regulars under Lampard, Marcos Alonso in particular, who clutched his Chelsea badge hard after volleying in the second goal.
Only the players, the staff, and the manager knows what happened under Lampard, but the best and only way now is forward and to all pull in the same direction for the good of results and success.