One of Thomas Tuchel’s former employers describes him as a ‘footballaholic’, a man who devotes every moment to dissecting the game’s tactical nuances. It’s no surprise that Tuchel swiftly delivered on his promise to transform Chelsea into a formidable team that opponents dreaded facing after taking over a struggling squad from Frank Lampard in January 2021. Just four months later, they were crowned champions of Europe, stunning Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in a tense final in Porto, executing Tuchel’s strategy to perfection. It was an extraordinary feat. When the German, who has since agreed to manage England, took charge, Chelsea were languishing in mid-table, conceding goals at an alarming rate. Undaunted, Tuchel promptly addressed the issues and implemented a 3-4-2-1 formation that made Chelsea the toughest team to score against in Europe. With order restored, they climbed back into the Premier League’s top four and reached the FA Cup final, though their performance against Leicester at Wembley was a rare misstep. It was in the Champions League knockout stages where they truly excelled, displaying efficiency and clinical precision in victories over Atlético Madrid, Porto, and Real Madrid, conceding just twice in six games, and maintaining that solidity against City.
Guardiola was outfoxed. Chelsea were impenetrable, lethal on the counterattack, and dominant in midfield. N’Golo Kanté enjoyed a rare injury-free spell, and Jorginho, often criticized for being too slow for English football, had the best year of his career under Tuchel’s guidance. Jorginho particularly benefited from Chelsea’s switch to a back three. However, Tuchel is not rigid in his tactics; he adopted this formation because he believed the aging Thiago Silva lacked the pace to play as a center-back in a back four, especially with Jorginho in midfield. Much of Chelsea’s attacking prowess came from their young English wing-backs, Ben Chilwell and Reece James. It was no coincidence that their title challenge faltered the following season after Chilwell and James suffered long-term injuries.
Chelsea thrived in one-off matches. Tuchel proved more than capable of matching wits with Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool in the 2022 Carabao Cup and FA Cup finals. Chelsea were unfortunate to lose both games on penalties after thrilling goalless draws. They were a cup team lacking the creativity needed to keep pace with City and Liverpool in the league. Tuchel experimented with a more open system at times, but the core issue was a lack of individual quality. Tuchel lacked a player like Mo Salah or Kevin De Bruyne, and his attackers were inconsistent. Chelsea drew too many straightforward games, and Tuchel soon regretted his £97.5m investment in the Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku, who was meant to be the final piece of the puzzle.
Tuchel’s primary target for the No 9 position was Harry Kane. However, Tottenham was never going to sell to Chelsea. Tuchel had to wait until joining Bayern Munich to sign Kane, and he is now set for a reunion with the striker at the international level. Kane flourished under Tuchel last season. Suggestions that the 51-year-old’s structured approach limits attacking players might be exaggerated. If based on some frustrating performances at Chelsea, it’s worth noting that England boasts a superior and deeper pool of forwards. Tuchel tends to find the right balance, avoiding overloading the attack and prioritizing midfield stability. Tuchel aimed to bring Declan Rice to Chelsea and may see similarities between Rice and the tidy Angel Gomes. Like Gareth Southgate, he is not averse to using a back three when necessary.
Players will find his training sessions engaging and innovative. Tuchel is a dedicated coach who thrives on the essence of the game. He is demanding and intense in training but connected well with the Chelsea squad. Mateo Kovacic, who has played under Guardiola, marvels at Tuchel’s tactical acumen. Mason Mount played the best football of his career under Tuchel. As for the media, English journalists appreciated Tuchel’s intelligence, humor, insight, and openness. Difficult questions posed no challenge to him. He seamlessly adopted a statesmanlike role when Roman Abramovich was forced to sell Chelsea following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
That event marked a turning point in his relationship with Chelsea. Tuchel was dismissed after clashing with the new owners, raising concerns about his personality. He has a reputation for disagreements with his superiors, though the positive aspect is that transfer disputes will not be an issue with England. There will be no interference from above. The challenge will be selecting the right players, maintaining the culture, and somehow guiding England to victory in a tournament. For the FA, confidence comes from Tuchel’s victory over Guardiola under pressure. They trust that Super Tommy Tuchel knows precisely what is needed. It likely won’t be an all-out attack with no defense.
