AFCON 2025
By Chima Azu
Modern day coaches like Mourinho, Pep, Klopp, Conte are revolutionaries in today’s footballing world with their diverse playing styles which has won them numerous trophies. Looking at this current Chelsea side with what they’ve achieved so far and how they are playing currently one can say without mincing words that Tuchel is as good as these managers.
It was less than a year after he lost the Champions League final while he was coach of PSG to Bayern Munich, 8 months later he lifted the same trophy being just 4 months into the job after taking over from Lampard defeating Manchester City in the final in May. He is the first coach to get to two consecutive Champions League finals with two different clubs. In his first game just a day after he was appointed, Chelsea played out a goalless draw against Wolves but in that match Tuchel set a record of having the most possesion (78%) the most for a coach making his debut.
Chelsea recently demolished Juventus 4:0 in the Champions League and are currently topping their group, also they are at the apex of the EPL ahead of City with three points. He has also set the best defensive record which was formerly held by Jose Mourinho. With just 24 goals conceded, he now has the best defensive record of any manager in the history of the English Premier League. In 50 games in charge he has recorded 32 wins and has had 31 clean sheets.
He said after the Champions League triumph that he would build a team no one would want to play against and that is currently happening. The team comfortably plays without a recognized number 9 and still get the results. They won the Champions League with out-of-form Timo Werner and have played a huge chunk of their games this season with Lukaku and Werner out injured. Regardless of the constant rotation, the team still maintains the same quality performance no matter who’s playing. Every player that gets to play gives a 101% and that’s all thanks to the former PSG coach. Tuchel is known for his high tactical ability, “gengenpressing” and how he tweaks his formation constantly. He was known to play the 4-3-3 while at PSG. In Chelsea there’s been alterations his played 3-5-2, 3-4-3 and his recently playing a 3-4-2-1, but whichever the formation his always getting the results.
One aspect of the team that Tuchel has worked on is that goals can come from any department. It is worth pointing out that almost all Chelsea’s defenders aside Azpilicueta have been on the scoresheet in this campaign : Reece James (6), Thiago Silva (1), Rudiger (2), Chilwell (3), Christensen (1), Marcos Alonso (1); that’s a total of 13 goals from a total of 40 scored in all competitions so far.
Looking at the blistering form Chelsea are in at the moment it won’t be wrong to say that Chelsea are the best team in Europe at the moment and are the team to beat. Also they are already looking like the favorite to win the EPL title. Kudos must be given to Tuchel for the way the team is playing at the moment and for his achievements so far and it’s frightening to say that he can only get better.
