Tuchel’s transformation of Chelsea rooted in rejigged defence
Every thunderous challenge from Reece James drew a roar of approval from Thomas Tuchel and his assistants. Chelsea were in control against Everton, 2-0 up and cruising, and they were not about to lose focus at the back.
Every potential path to goal turned out to be a dead end, providing further proof of the vast improvement in Chelsea’s defending since Tuchel’s arrival in January. That defensive security was rarely present under the previous regime.
Chelsea were often a shambles under Frank Lampard, conceding 54 goals in the Premier League last season. They were disorganised at set pieces, vulnerable to counterattacks and prone to individual errors. Opposition strikers fancied their chances.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been a pest in the past, winning the penalty when Everton beat Chelsea last December and bullying Andreas Christensen in a raucous 3-1 win for the Merseyside club at Goodison Park last season.
On Monday, though, the tables were turned. Christensen was coolness personified and did not give Calvert-Lewin a sniff of goal. Édouard Mendy, Chelsea’s goalkeeper, faced only one shot. It is like watching Chelsea when they won the league under Antonio Conte in 2017 or conceded only 15 goals under José Mourinho in the 2004-05 campaign.
They are a tougher proposition under Tuchel, who has conceded only two goals in his first 11 games. To put that achievement into context, one of those concessions was a freak own-goal from Antonio Rüdiger last month in the win against Sheffield United.
Tuchel, who has overseen shutouts against Atlético Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham, deserves huge credit. Supposed lost causes look reborn. Rüdiger has impressed after regaining his place and the shift to a back three suits César Azpilicueta, whose declining pace is easier to hide as a right centreback. It leaves Chelsea, who have jumped from ninth place to fourth, with interesting decisions to make given they are considering signing a centre-back this summer.
They have looked at Bayern Munich’s David Alaba, who is available on a free. There is also interest in Bayern’s Niklas Süle, RB Leipzig’s Ibrahima Konaté and Atlético’s José María Giménez. Yet there would have to be sales if a new defender arrives.
Lampard was left with a tricky balancing act when Chelsea found themselves with five centre-backs after signing Thiago Silva last summer. Tuchel’s predecessor had a selection headache when efforts to sell Rüdiger failed and Fikayo Tomori rejected a loan move to West Ham.
Tomori has since joined Milan on loan, impressing in Serie A. The Italian club have an option to buy the England international, but there is no guarantee they will use it. If Tomori returns, the competition for places rises.
Tuchel already has Kurt Zouma, who did well after coming in for Rüdiger against Everton, and Silva, who is likely to sign a one-year contract extension. Silva remains in good shape at the age of 37 and was one of the better performers under Lampard. Yet Chelsea are not reliant on the Brazilian. Christensen has flourished since stepping off the bench when Silva sustained a thigh injury against Spurs last month.
The 24-year-old is unrecognisable from the skittish figure who started the season with a foolish red card when Chelsea lost at home against Liverpool, who could not get round him when Tuchel’s side won at Anfield last week. Christensen is a smooth player.
He reads the game well, his positioning in the middle of the back three is clever and his distribution is excellent, allowing Chelsea to play out from the back.
He looks stronger too and it would not be a surprise if Chelsea decide to offer him a new deal, with his contract due to expire at the end of next season. Tuchel is seeing why Conte rated Christensen. Yet the German was keen to stress it is not about individuals after beating Everton. “In the end it is always a team effort,” Tuchel said. “It is not about parking the bus. It is about a certain style of defending, which we try to do as high up as possible.
But sometimes it is necessary to defend deep.” It is not that just Chelsea are keeping clean sheets, it is that they are barely giving any chances away. The wing-backs are diligent and the high line is functioning. Tuchel has brought tactical discipline and a structure.
The midfield is smarter and less open. Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic are making it harder for opponents to break between the lines, while N’Golo Kanté is looking sharper. There is commitment, too; a togetherness summed up by the way that even Chelsea’s substitutes were celebrating James’s full-blooded tackles against Everton.
“Defending is about reliability, trust, courage,” Tuchel said. “You can defend bravely if you know the guys around you will help when you lose a challenge. They are super hungry to fight and limit chances. It gives us a good feeling.”