The German shape shifter: Thomas Tuchel
The manager’s job at Stamford Bridge does not come with the responsibility to maintain a certain philosophy, an ethos such as that of a Barcelona or Manchester United. It does come with something similar, a demand for consistent results. The axe at West London does not take long to fall on even its favourite sons. Thomas Tuchel falls in the line of football thinkers, a tactical modernist and an obsessive winner. At a time when managers demand time to see through a period of transition, Tuchel needed none. Perhaps that somewhat redeems the players, maybe the ship wasn’t broken after all.
Tuchel will be back in Portugal tonight, an eerie sense of déjà vu. He had returned empty handed donning the dark blue of Paris. A year later, after an injection of tactical solidity into the Chelsea side he will face Pep Guardiola’s rampant Manchester City. Much has been made of their interaction in a German bar where they moved pepper and salt like pawns on a chess board and if this is the endgame, Tuchel is up by two pieces. Chelsea have won both of their matches against City under Thomas Tuchel and there is little that says he won’t play the same system he has grilled into the side.
Chelsea, play a fluid 3–4–3 or a 3–4–2–1 that can transition into a 5–4–1 in defence and 3–1–3–3 in attack. His side will undoubtedly try to press the first phase build-up from Manchester City, with both wingbacks Chillwell and James high on the opposition fullback leaving the front three of Mount, Werner and Ziyech/Pulisic to press. N’golo Kante’s flexibility in the role will allow him to join the press into midfield and conjure up a situation such as the Mount goal against Real Madrid.
Tuchel’s 3–4–3 offers multiple options to the player on the ball, the distance between players are narrow offering options in tight spaces. It allows the team to navigate through pressing lines and allows quick vertical progression. The Chelsea side love the long switch, ball retention when progressive options are not open are offered by the wingbacks with natural width, it opens new angles and chances to overload on opposite flank while the opposition readjusts shape. Mason Mount, combining with Ben Chilwell is the recurring evidence.
Chelsea progress through wide areas after breaking the first lines of press. The insides forwards in the 3–4–2–1 offer vertical options in half spaces. The option then is either to drive with willing runners in Mason Mount, Pulisic and Ziyech or play into the supporting players.
This has brought out the best in Mason Mount, compared to his stats from the previous season, his involvements in key moments( using the metrics xGChain and xGBuildup) of the game has improved. Progression is then supported by wingbacks who have the license to bomb into forward areas. Moves are intended to find crucial crossing positions with urgency and not allowing opposition defence to settle.
Thomas Tuchel has been the advocate to defend with aggression, a disciple of Ralf Rangnick it is quite from the book to press high and thwart opposition during first phase build ups. The three front line players press opposition centre backs while wingbacks on the near side push high to squeeze further. Kante joins into the press when a midfielder tries to drop in between pockets forcing teams to launch or relinquish possession.
They are well suited and Tuchel does not mind to drop the anchor and sit deep as he did against Real Madrid. The team switch to a 5–3–2, mid block over the zone 14. Forcing teams to work around the block into wide areas where Chelsea can then squeeze with a numerical advantage.
Thomas Tuchel was forced to retire at 25, worked at a bar to make ends meet, he went home after bombs went around the team bus just to watch football on TV. Tonight is his opportunity for redemption.
