Demanding Tuchel to Raise Blues' Standards
Thomas Tuchel’s demanding nature could be just what Chelsea need as they look to narrow the gap on the Premier League’s top four.
Having secured his first win as Blues manager against Burnley, Tuchel is already putting his own stamp on the squad at Stamford Bridge.
No Stranger to Big Club Pressure
While predecessor Frank Lampard was relatively inexperienced and still finding his feet in the world of management, Tuchel is a coach who has been there and done it. While his playing career can’t be mentioned in the same breath as that of Lampard’s, Tuchel has a great deal more experience and success in the dugout.
Starting his managerial career back at FC Augsburg, Tuchel rose through the Bundesliga with Mainz, before landing the job at Borussia Dortmund following the departure of Jurgen Klopp. Two years in the pressure cooker of the Parc des Princes with Paris Saint-Germain followed, with Tuchel taking the Ligue 1 giants to the Champions League final last year.
Now the 47-year-old has his first opportunity to impress in the Premier League, having previously been linked with a number of big clubs in England. Chelsea were slightly underwhelming in their goalless draw against Wolves in his first game, but then limiting Burnley to no shots on target in a 2-0 win would have pleased the new Blues boss. Chelsea, who are 6/4 with bet365 to finish in the top four in the Premier League football betting, have splashed big money on assembling this squad. But Tuchel will not be daunted by managing this group of players or their egos.
Silva Relationship Key
Having worked together during their time at Paris Saint-Germain, the relationship between Tuchel and experienced centre-back Thiago Silva could be key for the Blues this season. The Brazil international has already established himself as a key figure in the Chelsea defence, and his knowledge of working with Tuchel will be invaluable to the side.
There was certainly work to be done on the Chelsea defence after Lampard’s departure, with the Blues conceding 23 goals in their first 19 games of the season. Already the west London outfit have kept two clean sheets in Tuchel’s first two games, and that link with Silva might well have made the transition of a new manager slightly smoother for the Chelsea defence.
The German Connection
As soon as Tuchel was confirmed as Lampard’s replacement, there was plenty of talk regarding German internationals Timo Werner and Kai Havertz. The pair have made slightly underwhelming starts to their time in the Premier League and Tuchel has been tasked with bringing out the best in his countrymen. Only time will tell if that comes to fruition, but both Havertz and Werner are quality players, and at their best can certainly be game-changers in the Premier League.
It will take time for Tuchel to really settle in at The Bridge. But the early signs are positive as Chelsea look to narrow the gap on the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool at the top of the table.
