Jason Cundy says Thomas Tuchel’s impressive start as Chelsea manager proves it was the right call to sack Frank Lampard.
The Blues legend was given his marching orders and replaced by the German coach last month after losing five of his final eight Premier League matches.
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Tuchel has breathed new life into Chelsea with an eight-match unbeaten run, while giving more minutes to Callum Hudson-Odoi, Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho and Marcos Alonso – four players who struggled for first-team action under Lampard.
Speaking after Chelsea’s 1-0 first leg win over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last-16 on Tuesday, former Blues defender Cundy told talkSPORT: “Tuchel has changed the shape of the team.
“Defensively, we’re far more solid; we don’t look like we’re going to concede in every single attack.
“He has revolutionised Callum Hudson-Odoi at right wing-back; he’s played in a role I’ve never seen him play before and I’m guessing he’s never played it at youth team level.
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“He has got Marcos Alonso back in from the cold; the last game he played was West Brom away in a 3-3 draw [last September].
“It is difficult to argue that Frank should have kept his job after that.
“The new manager’s job is to come in and get results. Were Chelsea underperforming under Frank? Yes. Our performances were lousy.”
Olivier Giroud’s 68th-minute goal has given Chelsea a great chance of qualifying for the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in seven years.
But Cundy insists the tie is far from over with Atletico boss Diego Simeone getting the better of the Blues – plus Liverpool and Arsenal – in the past.
“I’m under no illusions that this is only half-time,” added Sports Bar host Cundy.
“Any Chelsea fan that thinks this game is over is wildly wrong, because this is far from over. Atletico are more than capable.
“You saw when they went 1-0 down, there was a period of about ten minutes in which they looked more dangerous than they had done in the whole game.
“They’ve got good players; [Joao] Felix, how he can play in that system and not get the best out of him. We know what he is like as a manager, Simeone. They’ve got [Luis] Suarez up top…
“I’m not taking this for granted one little bit. It’s a brilliant night, a brilliant win, but this isn’t over.”
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