Thomas Tuchel reveals unhappiness at Chelsea attack and why he substituted substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi

Thomas Tuchel cut a frustrated figure during Chelsea’s draw with Southampton and revealed after the match that he was disappointed with the team’s attacking output. Mason Mount netted a penalty to equalise Takumi Minamino’s well-taken opener in an eventual 1-1 draw at St. Mary’s.

The Blues started with Tammy Abraham up front but replaced him with Callum Hudson-Odoi at the break – before the latter was also subbed off later in the match. After the game, the new manager revealed that both of the duo were replaced due to not being able to match the standards he wants to set at the club, in terms of their on- and off-the-ball productivity, during the game.

The point left Chelsea still in fourth in the Premier League, but three points off Manchester United and Leicester above them after a game more – and with Liverpool or West Ham now able to overtake the Blues if they win their own respective matches this weekend.

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Tuchel lamented the lack of end product in the final third of the pitch his side showed and made it clear his side will need to improve.

“We had chances and possibilities to take a deserved win but sometimes it’s like this in football,” he told BT Sport.

“In the last 20 minutes I was not happy, we were not decisive, aggressive or clinical enough to create big chances. Decision-making was not good today so it was hard and if you need a penalty to score once it tells the story.

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“I’m not worried about conceding the goal. That’s not the problem, for me the frustration was the last 20 metres and I had the feeling we end our own attacks ourselves with balls over-hit, balls under-hit, we slip, we cannot take a two against one.

“It was not good enough today.”

Regarding the attacking pair he subbed off, Tuchel explained his approach and why he wanted a lot more from Hudson-Odoi in particular – though the duo will remain in contention to play in the Champions League in midweek against LaLiga leaders Atletico Madrid.

“I’m not concerned about Tammy, it was not for injury [he was subbed off].

“It was hard to show his quality and he could not put his stamp on this game so we changed the formation, brought in Hudson[-Odoi] but I was not happy with the attitude, energy and counter-pressing so we took him off because I demand a lot.

“He was not in a position to help us. It’s tough, but tomorrow it’s forgotten and he has possibilities to start against Atletico.”

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