How Thomas Tuchel has transformed Chelsea's leaky defence
Courageous Christensen, revived Rudiger, Kante back to his inexhaustible best and a popular switch to three-at-the-back… How Thomas Tuchel has transformed Chelsea’s leaky defence after EIGHT clean sheets in 10 games
- Chelsea’s 1-0 win at Liverpool saw another sound defensive performance
- They have conceded only twice in 10 matches since Thomas Tuchel took over
- It is a stark contrast to the leaky back line during Frank Lampard’s final weeks
- Tuchel’s switch to three central defenders and wing-backs has added stability
- Andreas Christensen has stepped up impressively to replace Thiago Silva
- N’Golo Kante is also back to some of his best form to reinforce the back line
Remember when Manchester City walked the ball through Chelsea’s flimsy defensive line almost at will? When they scored three times inside the first 34 minutes at Stamford Bridge and it could have been more.
That was on January 3, just two months ago, but back when it seemed any opponent could capitalise on the defensive insecurities of Frank Lampard’s ailing side.
What a transformation in the two months that have passed. Since Thomas Tuchel replaced the sacked Lampard in late January, Chelsea have looked solid as a rock.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel embraces Andreas Christensen after Thursday night’s 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield – an eighth clean sheet in 10 matches under the German boss
Antonio Rudiger puts in a slide challenge to dispossess Sadio Mane as Liverpool were kept out
The defensive stability is an improvement on the final weeks of Frank Lampard’s tenure
The German has overseen 10 matches and recorded seven wins, three draws and zero defeats. Equally as impressively, Chelsea have kept eight clean sheets, conceding only twice.
Unexpectedly, those two conceded goals came at the hands of relegation-haunted Sheffield United and out-of-form Southampton.
In the tougher games, Chelsea have been impregnable. Tottenham, Atletico Madrid, Manchester United and now Liverpool have been unable to find any way through.
Thursday night’s 1-0 win at Anfield was as impressive a performance as anything produced by Chelsea in recent years.
Liverpool were restricted to just one shot on target all night, the defence laying the foundation for three points earned by Mason Mount’s goal.
So how has this sudden defensive strengthening come about?
Thursday night’s win returned Chelsea back to the top four as their uplift in form continued
Security of three central defenders
Tuchel came in with the reputation of being a master strategist from his work with Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain.
He demands a tactical dexterity from his players and it is common to see Tuchel sides deploy rotating formations and systems throughout a season.
Knowing he would have limited time to express concepts on the training ground amid a chaotic season, Tuchel wisely reverted to a 3-4-2-1 shape that offers added security at the back and is familiar to some of the squad.
Antonio Conte used it to excellent effect the last time Chelsea won the Premier League in 2016-17 and the likes of Marcos Alonso, Kurt Zouma, Cesar Azpilicueta and N’Golo Kante remain in the squad from that go-round.
Christensen (centre) nips in to steal the ball off Mane (left) as Mohamed Salah (right) looks on
Antonio Rudiger wins a header above Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain amid another strong display
TUCHEL’S RESULTS
Premier League unless stated
January 27 Wolves (H) 0-0
January 31 Burnley (H) 2-0
February 4 Tottenham (A) 1-0
February 7 Sheffield United (A) 2-1
February 11 Barnsley (A) 1-0
FA Cup fifth round
February 15 Newcastle (H) 2-0
February 20 Southampton (A) 1-1
February 23 Atletico Madrid (A) 1-0
Champions League last-16, first leg
February 28 Man United (H) 0-0
March 4 Liverpool (A) 1-0
Played 10 Won 7 Drawn 3 Lost 0
Goals for 11 Goals against 2
Clean sheets 8
Their detailed knowledge can be filtered down to less experienced players but the advantages in a side that had been leaking goals is obvious.
Three central defenders as opposed to two allows immediate cover if one is caught in possession upfield and when combined with a defensive midfielder or two, plus the two wing-backs, there is a blocking line the whole width of the pitch.
Ben Chilwell and Reece James are well-versed in their defensive responsibilities and the scope of their attacking potential depends on the danger of the opponent. But Tuchel clearly trusts them to track back and aid the back three when required.
Key to any effective defence is a consistency of selection and we’re starting to see that. Tuchel gave everyone in the squad a clean slate when he arrived and we’ve even seen the frozen-out Alonso return.
But having assessed everyone’s relative merits, the back three has been identical for Chelsea’s last three games against Atletico, United and Liverpool – Andreas Christensen between Antonio Rudiger and Azpilicueta.
Indeed, Rudiger and Azpilicueta have played every minute of league and Champions League action under Tuchel, while Christensen, barely involved under Lampard, has stepped up brilliantly after Thiago Silva was injured against Tottenham last month.
This consistency of the defensive line-up enables understanding between players to grow and it’s paying dividends for Chelsea at the moment.
A forcefield around the box
Liverpool may be off-colour at the moment – in the Premier League at least – but restricting them to just one shot on target at Anfield is still worthy of congratulations.
The back line’s positioning and anticipation to shut down Liverpool’s passing supply lines to Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino was spot on.
There was one hairy moment when Mane was picked out by a long ball over the top and miskicked his shot but that was very much an exception.
Tuchel shakes hands with Cesar Azpilicueta after Thursday night’s impressive win at Anfield
A comparison of Chelsea’s defensive performances under Lampard and Tuchel from Opta
Every measure shows how Chelsea have tightened up under Tuchel from the Lampard days.
The average number of shots faced per game has dropped from 10 to 7.2 and shots on target have fallen from 3.4 to 1.9.
Meanwhile, the number of touches by opposition players inside the Chelsea box has gone down from 17.5 per match to 14.2.
This is partly explained by a slight increase in tackles from 15.6 per game to 16.5, but the change in formation and renewed work rate, plus that developing defensive understanding, explains the rest.
With the average goals conceded down from 0.9 to 0.2 since the change of managers and expected goals against down from 0.9 to 0.6, it’s like a forcefield has been placed around the Chelsea box.
Mason Mount (left) scored the decisive goal as Chelsea took all three points at Anfield
Courageous Christensen
Many feared the worst when Thiago Silva suffered a thigh injury and departed 36 minutes into Chelsea’s win at Tottenham on February 4.
The 36-year-old Brazilian had started pretty much every Premier League game under Lampard and had performed really well for the most part.
Christensen, by contrast, was in danger of becoming another forgotten man at Stamford Bridge. The Dane had started just one league game since October before being thrust into the action against Spurs.
But the worries were unfounded. Christensen has been excellent, returning to his high standards during Conte’s second season in 2017-18, and Tuchel actually faces a big dilemma now Silva is back in training again.
Thiago Silva was in the heart of the defence until he suffered an injury against Tottenham
As the manager said on Thursday: ‘Andreas stepped in in the middle of the first half against Tottenham, which was a really tough thing to do, and from the first minute, he’s been absolutely impressive.
‘He’s brave, strong in individual challenges, brave and intelligent in the build-up, and plays with a lot of confidence.
‘I am absolutely happy with his performances and how he’s stepped up.’
Against Liverpool, his anticipation was first class to keep Mane and company quiet. But what also caught the eye was his courage in stepping out of defence with the ball, in spite of Liverpool’s famously quick press.
Christensen (left) keeps track of Salah (right) during Thursday night’s game on Merseyside
CHELSEA’S NEXT SIX FIXTURES
Premier League unless stated; Dates TBC
March 8 Everton (H)
March 12 Leeds (A)
March 17 Atletico Madrid (H) CL
March 21 Sheffield United (H) FAC
April 3 West Brom (H)
April 10 Crystal Palace (A)
As Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said: ‘I felt he was taking the ball, playing out from the back and being really brave against one of the best pressing teams in the Premier League and Europe.
‘I think he was really brave in taking those responsibilities.’
And Tuchel spoke after the game about how he has instilled a confidence to play out from the back and ‘escape the pressure’ opponents put on them.
It’s certainly working well for them.
Rudiger revival
It was a turbulent start to the year for Rudiger, with reports that he played a key role in Lampard’s sacking after meeting with the Chelsea hierarchy.
The German barely got a look-in under Lampard during the first half of the season and had become accustomed to warming the bench if he made the squad at all. There were also suggestions Rudiger had fallen out with Azpilicueta.
Rudiger dismissed all this as ‘nonsense rumours’ in a recent interview but the reset at Chelsea has undoubtedly benefitted him as Tuchel has promoted him above Zouma in the pecking order.
As well as starting every Premier League game under the new manager, he played against Atletico and even came on at half-time in the FA Cup tie at Barnsley.
Rudiger (right) gets to grips with Mane (left) during Thursday night’s Premier League win
A Sofascore comparison of Rudiger’s defensive performances under Lampard and Tuchel
In the last two games against United and Liverpool, Rudiger has had to be helped with cramp in the closing stages of games.
At the final whistle on Sunday, he laid down on the turf in what appeared to be sheer exhaustion.
Given his tackles, duels won and interceptions have all increased under Tuchel, here’s a player putting in the maximum.
And as long as Chelsea continue keeping clean sheets, Rudiger is likely to keep his spot.
Rudiger (bottom) gets a hand from Ben Chilwell (top) after feeling cramp late on at Liverpool
The German defender had a similar issue after a busy performance against Manchester United
Indefatigable Kante back to his best
As extra layers of defensive security go, there can’t be too many better than Kante.
Chelsea fans have been thrilled by his return to top form after a hamstring injury in January and he was on top form shielding the back three on Thursday night.
He won 13 duels on the floor, put in four tackles, completed all of his dribbles and made four clearances/interceptions. Oh and he supplied the assist for Mount to win it.
It’s little wonder Tuchel, someone who appreciates a good set of stats, was effusive in his praise afterwards.
N’Golo Kante was in top form shielding the defence from his defensive midfield role at Anfield
He told RMC Sport: ‘He is a gift, it’s incredible. I’ve never seen anything like this. At training, in games, he never stops. We look at the data on his intensity and he is incredible.’
To think that there was talk Kante was beyond his best and Chelsea should be signing a replacement defensive midfielder back in the summer.
That came after Kante received praise from his manager for eliminating Bruno Fernandes from the contest on Sunday afternoon.
It’s hard to understate his continued importance to any Chelsea side and a strong finish to the season now looks likely.
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