Thomas Tuchel says he is confident it won’t take long for his new Chelsea changes to get to grips with his tactical demands after last night’s goalless draw against Wolves.
The German coach took charge of his first game after his appointment as Frank Lampard’s successor was confirmed and named, by his own admission, an ‘unfair’ starting lineup.
Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham, who all featured prominently under Lampard, were named on the bench as Tuchel put faith in a core of more experienced players at the club.
Callum Hudson-Odoi was the only academy graduate to start the game and even he was selected in an unfamiliar wing-back role in a 3-5-2 formation which saw their attack spearheaded by Giroud.
Tuchel was deprived of the services of N’Golo Kante with the midfielder still recovering from a hamstring injury which has ruled him out for a couple of weeks.
The France international is reported to be unsettled by the ongoing upheaval at the club but he looks likely to form a central part of his new manager’s plans after Tuchel revealed he fought hard to sign him when he was at PSG.
‘The funny thing is when you join a team in the middle of the season, I already know the likes of Kai [Havertz], Timo [Werner], Toni [Rudiger].
‘I fought many years to have N’Golo Kante in my team and now I have him here, also Olivier Giroud, we have a clear picture,’ Thomas Tuchel said in his post-game press conference.
‘I have been following the Premier League for many years both in Dortmund and in Paris so I have a clear picture of what the guys are capable of.
‘To find a guy like [Cesar] Azpilicueta in your office is simply amazing because in the end I am also a fan off football.’
