Chelsea are in a bit of a slump at the minute. However, it’s important to remember that Champions League football is all but secured for next season, even if the title is out of grasp, yet there is space for some gentle criticism at this stage.
As The Evening Standard notes, the aura around the team is a little fractious, and Tuchel’s recent body language has reflected that. The club have nevertheless won two trophies already and are still in the running for three more and so it’s hardly a crisis – but some tweaks are arguably required to set the team on the path to success once again.
Changing the narrative
Chelsea is never a club that seems settled for long. The joke of being a club that changes managers every five minutes would be one of the first tick boxes on a Premier League bingo card, and events over the last few months have done nothing to quell that. Romelu Lukaku’s unsanctioned interview gave the club a headache to deal with, and was something which The Guardian notes Tuchel felt angry about.
Tuchel and Chelsea might find it helpful to look back at Mourinho-era tactics. While his success is a long way away now, something that was notable about José’s success was the fortress mentality. The club was strong, regardless of any scandals trying to envelop it.
Similar tactics have been deployed at Liverpool by Jurgen Klopp. Taking control of the narrative, and focusing on football, is imperative.
Sorting out the defense
Early Tuchel era Chelsea was built on defensive solidity. The Champions League final was won on it – Man City simply couldn’t get through an astonishingly well-drilled team.
You could also see that discipline at the start of the current season when The Blues held off prolific scorers Liverpool despite only having 10 men.
Injuries have hit the team badly, and Rüdi’s ongoing contract situation makes it hard to plan. Despite that, the team needs to get back to doing what it does best – shutting teams out, and getting professional results.
Use the squad
Chelsea are fighting on four fronts and, arguably, need to learn how to rotate. Liverpool, for instance, have found time to use 27 players, versus Chelsea’s 25, according to TransferMarkt, and are still in all of their competitions. The club continues to rely on a smaller set of players, with a number of big names not getting as many minutes – despite encouraging performances.
Take, for instance, Pulisic’s most recent performance against Liverpool. Signs are encouraging of late, with more game time for Ziyech being rewarded in good performances, but Chelsea need to do more to continue competing on all fronts.
Man City, who have rotated to the same extent as Chelsea, have done so at the expense of two competitions.
Chelsea are still doing fantastically well – but there’s more that needs to be done. More use of the bench and a change of narrative, paired with a little more focus on defence, will serve as an ample course correction.