Chelsea went to London rivals Spurs’ own backyard on Sunday afternoon and thrashed them 3-0… Sounds good, right?
Well, it was very much a game of two halves, and the first half for Chelsea was far from ‘good’.
Here are 5 things I noticed…
Thomas Tuchel doesn’t admit it, but he’s a tactical genius.
The Blues boss said after the game his half time substitution bringing N’Golo Kante in for Mason Mount was not changing the system, it was about adding a player who would bring more energy to the middle of the park, more spirit, and help us win more 50/50 duels..
Here are his words..
“Actually we did not change the system but that is maybe the whole point. It seemed we changed the system but we just played it with more belief, more energy, more quality, sharper. It was simply too sloppy and not sharp enough in the first half.
“We relied too much on our skilful play in the first half. We forgot to bring the right attitude and energy to this game. There were individual performances at a high level.
“For example, Thiago Silva and Kepa. But as a team, we allowed too many chances, way too many easy ball losses, not enough ball possession, and every 50/50 duel went against us.
“This had to change and, well, if you have N’Golo on the bench and you want to step up in these parts of the game, it’s the best player to bring on because he is unique and can change any momentum.
“So the change appeared to be, in terms of characteristics, a bit more defensive but we wanted to improve our compactness, ball wins, and spirit as a team.
“We wanted a higher intensity and work rate in our match to win balls actively and put the match in the opponent’s half. Then we can rely on our skills, that was the idea behind it. The reaction was absolutely needed but we showed it and played a very strong second half to deserve this win.”
So was it a tactical switch or was it a change to bring a better mentality into the team? Well, in short, it was both. But Tuchel cannot deny his switch was tactically genius.
Kante came in and we instantly controlled the play a lot more and closed spaces in the middle of the park that Spurs were exploiting. Regardless of Kante being Kante, just putting the extra man in a deeper midfield position than what Mason was playing helped so much.
We DID change the system as well, we went to a 3-5-2. Kante was playing deeper than Mount as a box-to-box midfielder, and Kovacic was in the same role as before, with Jorginho staying the deepest midfielder.
Thiago Silva is NOT about to turn 37-years old.
I’m sorry but can someone get hold of his passport, we need proof of age. This guy not only plays like a 26-year old in his prime, he plays like a world class 26-year old in his prime.
I posted a picture of him kissing the badge after he put us in front yesterday on my Twitter alongside John Terry doing the same. This is not comparing Chelsea legends, as Terry earned that over the years. This was simply comparing world class defenders in football, two of the best to ever do it, and it just so happens that Silva now LOVES Chelsea as much as Terry does!
But that is the kind of stature Silva brings to this team, John Terry-like stature, and there is no debating that.
Andreas Christensen went from running to the toilet with nerves before matches, to being an absolute colossal and key member of this Chelsea starting Xl.
Once again Thomas Tuchel selected Andreas Christensen in his starting line up against Spurs, and once again he put in at least a 9/10 performance, as he has so consistently been doing since Tuchel arrived.
In fact, Tuchel rates him so highly now that it was Reece James that missed out just to keep Christensen in the starting line up.
Christensen plays with SO much confidence now that it is hard to imagine Maurizio Sarri telling us all how the Danish international used to get so nervous before matches that he had to run to the toilet before kick off.
This is what Sarri was quoted as saying back in 2019 after Christensen left the Arsenal match 15 minutes early to run to the toilet..
“I was worried more than anything. You know very well, on matchdays, Christensen always has a stomach ache.
I don’t know the reason, but he’s very nervous. He had to go to the toilet, so I don’t know what to say.”
Tuchel also picked up on his nervousness and had his doubts on Christensen when he took over from Frank Lampard in January.
This is what he said after the match yesterday..
“Andreas has been very strong since day one, can play in all three positions in the defence and he plays with a lot of confidence.
“In the beginning, I had the feeling it was a bit of push to believe in himself and impose himself and trust in his quality because he has everything that we need in these positions. Again a very strong performance. You can see it in the minutes.
“We rely fully on him and he’s doing very very good so far and it is everybody’s target that he continues like this.”
What a transition for Andreas, and long may it continue.
Romelu Lukaku needs more service, but it’s OK to have dips in form.
Both Kai Havertz and Mason Mount were not at the races at all yesterday, with both being hauled off, Mount even as soon as half time.
This is nothing abnormal, they both actually look like they could use a rest and reset. But it’s totally fine for football players to have off days or dips in form. There is no need to start doubting either of them.
But with that said though, we need to be feeding the ever hungry Romelu Lukaku way more than we are right now. It was frustrating for me to watch him constantly making runs or pointing where he wanted the pass and many of our players, not just Mount and Havertz, missing the early pass or not having the guts to make the through ball.
This is a confidence issue and something that needs addressing. We need to have belief that we can hit those passes to Lukaku, because if I am frustrated watching it, he must be at his limits when he is playing it.
I would have even argued that Callum Hudson-Odoi or even Timo Werner, who came on and got an assist, would have been more suited to that game than Havertz, due to their directness and pace.
Feed the lion, he is starving…
The pundits are really blowing our trumpets.
I’m not sure if that is a good thing or not, but the world of football is really sitting up and taking notice of just how good this Chelsea team looks under Tuchel currently..
Even Gary Lineker piped up!
Everyone hates us, but everyone believes in us and as I say, I’m not sure of that is a good thing especially with this group of players seemingly always doing better as the underdogs, last season anyway. But maybe that has all changed now…
Simon Phillips