Now this was more like it. Chelsea had control and creativity, playing crisp and inventive football once César Azpilicueta had scored the first goal of the Thomas Tuchel era. Tuchel’s side had a clear idea in attack and combined it with impressive discipline without the ball, ensuring Burnley did not manage an effort on goal. James Tarkowski sent a header off target deep into added time.
After the choked introduction against Wolves last Wednesday, it felt like the true start of Tuchel’s reign. There was an edge to Chelsea’s dominance of possession, typified by the flowing move for Azpilicueta’s goal, and a tactical coherence rarely in evidence under Frank Lampard. Callum Hudson-Odoi sparkled in tandem with Mason Mount, the defence functioned well and the sense of something new forming was underlined by the second goal coming from a player who had fallen out with Lampard.
It was a fantastic strike from Marcos Alonso, capping off an impressive return to the side for the Spaniard and ensuring that the scoreline reflected Chelsea’s superiority. “When they turn up and play like that it’s very difficult,” Sean Dyche said. Burnley’s manager was impressed with Chelsea, who are up to seventh. Dyche spoke glowingly about the tempo of their pressing, the speed of their counterattacks, and his praise for Tuchel made the rush to judge the German after his first game, that drab stalemate with Wolves, look even more ridiculous.
“It was a very complete performance defensively and offensively,” Tuchel said. “We had to be very strong against many long balls. You have to fight for the second ball. It was always active defending, we were never passive. At the same time we never lost patience with the ball.”
It is not a surprise Tuchel is still working out how best to utilise his squad despite winning his second game. Once again he made changes as he searched for the perfect blend in his 3-4-3 system, overhauling his front three after blunt displays from Hakim Ziyech, Olivier Giroud and Kai Havertz against Wolves. Tammy Abraham came in as the central striker, Mount returned in a free role on the right and Timo Werner began as an inside-left forward, a role that brought the best out of him at RB Leipzig.
The intention was to move Werner away from the touchline, working in tandem with Alonso, who was handed a first start since being hauled off when Chelsea were 3-0 down at half-time to West Brom last September. The latter’s inclusion was evidence of Tuchel’s propensity to surprise, not to mention his desire to give opportunities to everyone.
While Lampard was unimpressed with Alonso for returning to the team bus without permission after being withdrawn in the draw with West Brom, Tuchel was ready to use a player who divides opinions within the fanbase. It is not about winning popularity contests. There was a logic to picking Alonso, who is more comfortable at left wing-back than Ben Chilwell, who attacked well and his height helped Chelsea contain Burnley’s set pieces.
The early lesson with Tuchel, who rested Ziyech, is to expect the unexpected. “If we manage to find the starting 11 that can guarantee us to win us 20 in a row I will be very happy,” he said when asked whether he intends to keep his opponents guessing by altering his system from game to game.
Tuchel’s tactical brain is always whirring and he is vocal on the touchline. Scientific in his approach, he values coordinated moves and learned rhythms. But his players are still absorbing their new manager’s ideas. Chelsea started slowly and Tuchel spent plenty of time slapping his thighs in annoyance when moves broke down, with Werner’s lack of confidence obvious at times.
It needed quick transitions to open Burnley, who are eight points above the bottom three. Tuchel kept calling for more urgency and his instructions were finally heeded in the 41st minute. The move began with Jorginho threading a pass to Mount, who received possession on halfway before turning and darting into space. Mount ignored Tuchel’s call to push the ball to the left, instead looking to the opposite flank for Hudson-Odoi, who played a disguised pass for Azpilicueta, arriving like Trent Alexander-Arnold and finishing like Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Fiver: sign up and get our daily football email
Azpiliceuta’s burst from right centre-back was a sign of the fluidity Tuchel craves. The captain’s goal lifted the tension and Chelsea hammered Burnley in the second half. Hudson‑Odoi was always a threat from right wing-back, smacking the post with a deflected effort. Christian Pulisic, on for Abraham, was denied.
Chelsea killed the game with seven minutes remaining, Pulisic chipping the ball into the middle for Alonso, who controlled with his thigh and then his knee before volleying past Pope with his left foot. Time moves on.
from Football | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2MBCHyy
via IFTTT
No Comment