MATCH FACTS Make do... and Mendy CAT’S THE CREAM AS TUCHEL SEEKS ‘PRECISION’
THOMAS TUCHEL only has to look at Jorginho sat at the top of Chelsea’s goal charts to see where his problems are.
No player has scored more times for the Blues in the Premier League this season than the penalty-taking Italian whose main task is to anchor the midfield.
Six times Jorginho has scored from the spot – the same number of PL goals as injured striker Tammy Abraham, who hardly gets a look in when he’s fully fit anyway.
For the club considered potential title winners after a £220million transfer spend that included attacking talents like Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech, it is turning into the same frustrating issue for Tuchel as it had been for Frank Lampard.
And Chelsea’s top-four hopes remain in the balance.
Havertz started as a central striker and finished in midfield after Werner and Callum Hudson-odoi were sent on for the last 20 minutes.
Ziyech didn’t last the distance, subbed along with Christian Pulisic and Mason Mount, as Tuchel rang the changes in a bid to find a winning formula.
“We could have won the game,” insisted the Chelsea manager.
“We created enough chances to score one or two goals, but we have to live with the draw.
“We were not clinical enough. There was not enough determination or precision with our final touch.
“Our strikers never stopped working and we do have enough quality to use the chances better.
“But it is my responsibility to create more big chances.”
Tuchel has certainly had a significant effect on the Blues since he replaced Lampard.
He is still yet to taste defeat in 12 games since arriving at Stamford Bridge and his team have only conceded two goals in that time.
Victory here would have lifted them into third place.
But Tuchel would have travelled back to London looking into his rearview mirror knowing that West Ham, Everton and Tottenham will all go above his team if they win their games in hand.
Chelsea dominated Leeds for long periods, but the closest they came to beating Illan Meslier was when home captain Luke Ayling saw his clearance cannon off teammate Diego Llorente and hit the crossbar.
Havertz also sent a decent opportunity straight at Meslier at the start of the second half.
But in terms of real menace, it was Marcelo Bielsa’s team who carried more threat.
Leeds have graced the top flight with a fearless approach this season and Bielsa said that this was another giant stride on the learning curve. Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy had to produce two outstanding saves and was arguably the game’s best performer.
The Senegalese international stretched to tip Tyler Roberts’ glorious chip onto the bar in the first half. And after the break, he somehow changed direction to get a hand on Raphinha’s shot.
The home side lost top
■ Leeds’ possession figure of 38.1% is their lowest in 120 league games under Marcelo Bielsa. scorer Patrick Bamford with an ankle injury after 35 minutes and his replacement Rodrigo was substituted 40 minutes later after Bielsa (below) felt that his £26m summer signing had become fatigued.
“I value the minutes Rodrigo played,” said the Leeds boss. “After being out for 40 days with an injury he does not yet have match fitness.” The Spaniard, for his part, was not impressed.
There were other chances for the home side. Llorente’s shot was diverted over by Reece James’s outstretched leg.
And then Rodrigo directed a free header straight at Mendy.
“We were playing against a team that is superior to us,” said Bielsa. “But we did what was necessary to play a balanced game. At the end, the chances of both were similar.
“To play a game like we did today we have to make an enormous effort. To have provoked five or six chances on goal against a team like Chelsea has its merit.”
SUBS:
Rodrigo Booked (Bamford 35) 5, Costa (Harrison 64) 5,
Klich (Rodrigo 79) 5.
SUBS NOT USED: Casilla, Koch, Poveda-ocampo, Shackleton, Jenkins.
MENDY MOTM
Produced an excellent save in each half to secure a point
AZPILICUETA
His usual steady self but limited when asked to go forward
CHRISTENSEN
Solid performance. Dominant in the air and on the ground
RUDIGER
Strong and uncompromising display by the German
CHILWELLCAPTION
Did his best to give Chelsea attacking whidethadodwnetrhe left
KANTE
Always busdyiaffnedraevnaitlasbtleylteo take the ball butinodtiqffueitreeant best
JORGINHOSTYLE
Struggled to get his foot on the ball against the home side’s press
PULISIC
Given a Premier League start – and failed to make most of it. Hooked
ZIYECH
Another who was taken off after making little attacking headway
MOUNT
Not at his best as Chelsea struggled for creativity
HAVERTZ
Played as lone striker. Squandered a great second-half chance
SUBS:
James (Pulisic 68) 5,
Werner (Ziyech 69) 5,
Hudson-odoi (Mount 79) 5.
SUBS NOT USED: Arrizabalaga, Alonso, Zouma, Kovacic, Giroud, Emerson.