The significance of Thomas Tuchel’s first Champions League win with Chelsea
By A. Aden
On the other side of the pitch, a certain 34-year-old netted yet again for the Blues.
Olivier Giroud found himself as the starting striker for Tuchel in a game that demanded the composure and spontaneity of the veteran.
A player whose elite hold-up play reminds Timo of what he once had in Yussuf Poulsen, the attacking duo + Mason Mount regularly found themselves pouncing on deflections within the final third until one of those ultimately ended up at the mercy of another one of Giroud’s miraculous moments.
Mason Mount, a key cog in the bright start Tuchel has had in West London, has consistently found himself deployed as a No.10 or one of the attacking midfielders behind the striker.
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His ability to locate slots and pockets of space behind the defensive line, receive a ball and create glimpses of magic on the half turns and quickly relay back to the midfielders or spray it out to the wide players are all that have caught the attention of the manager, who has rewarded him with 6 starts in a row.
His naturally progressive playstyle is a joy to watch and coupled with his eagerness to press forward and win the ball back are evident in his impressive 3.2 tackles and interceptions per 90.
Behind the 22-year-old lie a solid defensive structure in Mateo Kovačić and Jorginho, who both lack the direct attributes needed of defensive midfielders (in varying degrees) in a pivot but have benefitted a great deal from the tactical capabilities of Thomas Tuchel.
Surprise 6-3-1 without the ball from Simeone. Mount seems like the key player here. Space for him over to the right, and if he can attract Lemar inside then Hudson-Odoi gets free
— Michael Cox (@Zonal_Marking) February 23, 2021
Tuchel has them playing within triangles composed of the wingback and one of the attacking midfielders.
This allows for those players trapped inside to be nullified and not count against the control of the flow of possession which in turn, controls the game.
A diamond-like shape in midfield by the opponents marks an eerily similar setup to the one deployed by former manager Jose Mourinho with Tottenham earlier this month.
Diego Simeone will hope his team bounces back on the 17th of March when they take their turn as the away team, desperate to spoil the party.
light. Related Story. Chelsea under Tuchel vs Chelsea under Lampard
We wonder if he will take kindly to turning back to his former 4-4-2 and back to comfortable territory.