Chelsea's 1-1 draw against Liverpool last weekend was the latest example of how difficult they are to break down, and how dangerous they are on the counter-attack. Having taken the lead, they threatened consistently in transition. Then, after conceding from a penalty and with Reece James sent off, they defended the draw.
The performance had all the hallmarks of a classic Chelsea performance, and that's because Thomas Tuchel has built a side in the club's image. This Chelsea has traits in common with previous successful Chelsea teams managed by Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte. And, like those teams, Tuchel's look ready for a serious tilt at the Premier League title.
THE BACK THREE
Tuchel took over at Chelsea on 26 January. Prior to his appointment, they conceded goals with alarming frequency. His first game in charge was a 0-0 draw at home to Wolves, ensuring a clean sheet which set the tone for the first few months of his tenure. Lampard had preferred a back four, but Tuchel implemented a back three. The extra centre-back made a massive difference to the team's defensive stability.
In Lampard's last 22 Premier League games as manager, Chelsea let in 28 goals. During this run they also conceded more than once in a game on eight occasions, while they kept just nine clean sheets.
Tuchel's first 22 Premier League games in charge have been a complete contrast. They have conceded just 14 goals in this period, conceding more than one goal in a single game just two times, and keeping 13 clean sheets.
In summary, since Tuchel took over, Chelsea's goals conceded per game has halved. They are currently on course to concede more than once in a game three or four times per season, as opposed to the 13 or 14 times under Lampard. They are also more likely to keep clean sheets, averaging one every 1.69 games to one every 2.44 games under Lampard.
Under Tuchel, Chelsea have become much harder to break down. And even when their defence is penetrated, they collapse less frequently. The Liverpool game provided a perfect example of this. With a one-man disadvantage in front of a raucous Anfield crowd, nobody would have questioned Chelsea for crumbling under the pressure. But they didn't.
LEARNING FROM HISTORY
The leaks have been plugged with a reversion to a three-centre-back system, but this is nothing new to Chelsea. Antonio Conte instituted a 3-4-3 shape in 2016/17 to great effect. After a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal, Conte dropped the back four and introduced a back three, something that wasn't prevalent in the Premier League at the time. After that, Chelsea kept more clean sheets, won more games, and sealed the title with 93 points.
Stylistically, there are some differences between Conte's 3-4-3 and Tuchel's. Defensively, Conte was more passive and wanted his side to defend low in a 5-4-1 shape. Tuchel, however, prefers the front three to remain intact when defending, to block passes into midfield and force opponents wide or long.
However, there are some similarities between the two systems. Firstly, there is the personnel. Cesar Azpilicueta, N'Golo Kante and Marcos Alonso were key players in Conte's 3-4-3, and they remain similarly important four years later in Tuchel's 3-4-3.
Essentially, Tuchel has learned from history to get the best out of the players available to him. The back three suits Chelsea's defensive options more than the back four, primarily because that's what many of them are used to and play their best football in.
Antonio Rudiger, who was signed by Conte, is specifically suited to the three. He's quick and aggressive, thriving when marking tightly and applying pressure on opponents between the lines. Andreas Christensen, who Conte liked, has also been reborn under Tuchel. The Dane was superb at Euro 2020 in a back three, and looks at home at club level in the same defensive formation.
FLEXIBILITY AND COUNTER-ATTACKING
Conte's tactics and recruitment left a legacy at Chelsea not only in terms of results, but in the players available to his successors. While Maurizio Sarri and Frank Lampard tried to move away from that legacy, and did so to minimal success, Tuchel leaned into it. He also embraced the club's successful past, evident particularly under Jose Mourinho, as an adaptable and strong counter-attacking side.
While at Dortmund he gained renown for introducing more nuance to the team's possession game, Tuchel's Paris Saint-Germain side contested the notion he belonged to the same 'school' as Pep Guardiola. That PSG team would counter-attack in big games, and Tuchel often fielded extremely cautious midfield selections with two or three ball-winners to nullify the opposition.
He spoke about the importance of being flexible tactically during his time in France. "Sometimes versatility allows you to get new things on the pitch and keep players focused," he said. "It's also a way for me to discover the players and see what they're capable of. It's necessary to have a certain flexibility."
This term, Tuchel's side look versatile, and devastating in transition. In last weekend's draw with Liverpool, they opened up their opponent continuously in the first half. Kante was integral, winning the ball and driving it forward at speed before laying off to a teammate.
Lukaku has also given Chelsea someone to hit directly, either with balls into feet or into space. The new signing also means Tuchel can tailor his front three more to exploit weaknesses in opponents. He can pair Lukaku with another quick attacker like Timo Werner or Christian Pulisic, or play him up front solo with two of Kai Havertz, Mason Mount and Hakim Ziyech in support.
Defensively solid within a 3-4-3 system, offensively flexible, and capable of devastating opponents on the counter-attack, Tuchel has mixed various elements of Chelsea tradition to build a highly effective team.
