Is Thomas Tuchel tactics the greatest hindrance to the team's performance?

Since 2003 that Chelsea was sold to the Russian billionaire, The Club has enjoyed considerable amount of achievement. Infact they're the most successful English Club trophy wise in the last decades.

Aside being the owner of the club, Abrahamovic is a proven lover of the game and die hard fan of the club. He invested tirelessly to make it a competitive one each season and The Club is known for it strict principle of relieving managers of their duties once they underperform.

Couple of managers who achieved the unthinkable with the football club were sacked when they had bad stints: Roberto Di Matteo is the first manager to have won the UEFA Champions League for Chelsea in 2012. Was eventually sacked the following season when the club was on verge of not qualifying for the UEFA Champions League knockout stage in 2013. Jose Mourinho, Claudio Ranieri, Rafa Benitez and Many big names had been shown the exit out of the club in recent years.

Frank Lampard, A Club legend, was the last manager sacked during the Russian billionaire reign of 19 years as the owner of the Club. Before Abramovich was forced to sell the club to Todd Boehly, due to sanctions imposed by the UK Government. Frank Lampard was replaced by Thomas Tuchel.

Before stressing further, about Thomas Tuchel reign, it is pertinent to give short overview of Lampard performance as the coach, He joined the Blues from Derby county after an impressive season With the Championship side. 

Although, Chelsea was slammed with a transfer ban by UEFA. The Gaffer couldn't recruit new players but had to trust youngsters and the players he met at the Club. The formation mostly played by the English manager is 4-3-3 formation with free flowing attacking football that gives the attackers freedom to score goals.   

Despite the Transfer ban, he had a decent and what can be somewhat called a bit successful season, leading them to fourth in the Premier League and an FA Cup final where they lost 2-1 to Arsenal. Tammy Abraham top-scored with 18 goals in all competitions, with double figures for Willian, Christian Pulisic and Olivier Giroud while Mount scored eight.

However, they were ninth in the league late in January the following season when he was sacked, having also exited the League Cup to Tottenham in the fourth round.

Lampard’s 84 games in charge of the club brought 44 wins, 17 draws and 23 defeats, with 163 goals scored and 106 conceded.

Thomas Tuchel was sacked by Paris Saint-Germain, four months after taking them to the Champions League final. He won back-to-back league titles as well as the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue in 2020. His unimpressive start to the season saw him replaced by Mauricio Pochettino.

Tuchel replaces club legend Frank Lampard, He was expected to get Chelsea back into the top four, while also continuing the quest for trophies in the FA Cup and the Champions League.

The German coach was able to overturn the season and won the UEFA champions league title, beating Manchester City in the final. He also led the team to FA cup final and lost to Leicester city 1 goal to Nil.

During his charge at the Club, Chelsea has won the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup and also finalist of the two domestic cups in England last season, losing to Liverpool via penalties in the two finals.

Despite his success, it has been brewing topic amongst ardent football lover that Tuchel tactical setup hasn't been helpful to the expression of the individual potentials of some players in the squad, most especially the attackers.

Starting from his formation, Tuchel is a fan of 3-4-3 or 3-4-1-2 formation with often require energetic fullbacks and it gives him edge to overpower and control the midfield from his opponents. This tactics has been effective but criticism has arouse about the less important roles attackers play. Most goals are being scored by defenders or midfielders.

Jorginho was the team Premier league 2020/2021 premier league top scorer with 7 goals. in which most of it came from the spot kick. This prompt the former owner to break the bank and sign Romelu Lukaku who had a wonderful season with the Italian side, Inter Milan for a club record €115m (£97.5m) transfer fee, for the striker, who returns to Stamford Bridge 10 years after joining from Anderlecht and becomes football's most expensive player in cumulative transfer fees at £289m.

However, the striker’s move to the Bridge didn't went as expected, He scored 15 goals and provide 2 assists in 44 appearance in all competitions last season and has eventually being loaned back to Inter Milan just after a season.

Although, The German Coach has a pretty amazing numbers but his system and pattern restrict attackers, Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Pulisic, Hudson Odoi all failed to impress. His style of football is often called "Tucheliban" 

Chelsea is having a sloppy start to the season, having won one match, drawn one and lost one in their first three matches played in the premier league so far. Raheem sterling who joined from Manchester City this summer is finding it difficult to get his scoring after three games into the season. 

"The dynamic attacking trident of Mount, Sterling and Kai Havertz has registered a grand total of zero goal and one assist in the first three Premier League matches of the new season.”

Chelsea are reportedly close to securing the signature of Aubameyang, as a temporary solution to the attacking woes of the team. The 33-year old who joined the Blaugrana in January from Arsenal.

While we think Thomas Tuchel tactical approach is the greatest hindrance to the team attacking woes. Let's us know your opinion.

Are there broader, systemic reasons for the struggles of ALL of Chelsea’s forwards?"

Author: Olayinka Salaudeen