MAGIC TUCH WORKS ON TIMO
New boss has even got Werner scoring again
THOMAS TUCHEL reckons he is not a man to hold back on the dressing-room yelling when things go wrong.
At this rate the German will not be getting too many sore throats.
Chelsea eased into fourth place in the Premier League last night as Tuchel made it five straight wins after taking over from Frank Lampard just six games ago.
And to show how well everything is going for the former Paris Saint-Germain coach, even Timo Werner broke his goal duck as he scored Chelsea’s second against a supine Newcastle.
Werner had gone 14 league games without scoring before last night – but 1,000 minutes after his last goal, against Sheffield United in November, the German striker prodded in from close range.
Substitute Olivier Giroud had notched the first goal in another comfortable win for Tuchel’s team, but this was a result that left Newcastle looking nervously over their shoulders.
Reviving Fulham’s win at Everton on Sunday closed the gap on Newcastle to seven points. The Magpies have now lost six of their past eight league games, and this showing did not inspire confidence that any revival of their own is on the horizon.
Tuchel, right, sprang a surprise before kick-off as he handed misfit Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga his first Premier League start since October 17 – seemingly keeping his promise that this is a fresh start for this squad. Kepa had played in the 1-0 FA Cup win at Barnsley on Thursday, which had been the narrowest squeak yet for the German.
But Chelsea dominated early on, as Marcos Alonso saw his shot saved and Dwight Gayle cleared Cesar Azpilicueta’s goalbound header.
But Tuchel’s team suffered a blow as Tammy Abraham limped off after Jamaal Lascelles’ fierce challenge, which had the Chelsea
manager claiming a penalty in vain. On came Giroud – and how many times has the veteran Frenchman popped up with a vital Chelsea goal?
This one took him just 11 minutes as Werner crossed, Newcastle goalkeeper Karl Darlow blundered as he only pushed the ball out and Giroud volleyed his eighth goal of the season into the empty net.
Werner had guided one effort wide from Alonso’s head down, then clipped another just over after some lovely skill by Mateo Kovacic. But the goal that broke Werner’s drought was much simpler and came about through more awful Newcastle defending.
Ciaran Clark could only flick Mason Mount’s corner against Lascelles and the ball bounced off the Magpies defender straight to Werner a yard out. He simply could not miss.
Tuchel’s team were carving out chances at will, and Mount should have added a third goal when he shot just wide. The Toon had been hopeless – punchless, devoid of wit or invention, and careless in their passing. They needed a goal early in the second half to stand any chance, but Kepa held Jonjo Shelvey’s curving free-kick safely.
Kovacic, who looks a different player under Tuchel, was an inspiration with his nimble skills, and he should have scored but drove just over from Callum Hudson-Odoi’s pass.
Newcastle were marginally better after halftime, and Kepa further justified his inclusion when he sank to his left to keep out JoeWillock’s header.
But it was nowhere near enough for Newcastle. Chelsea were never in any danger.
They are moving upwards. Where Newcastle are going is anybody’s guess.