Tuchel reflects on Havertz and Chelsea’s troubles in Leeds United attack

Chelsea haven’t lost a game to Thomas Tuchel yet, which is great, but we haven’t scored more than two goals in a game yet, which isn’t that great. More worryingly, we scored less than two of eight of the twelve, including three draws 0-0. The fact that we managed to create less than 1.0 xG against one of the most elusive defenses in the entire Premier League was particularly surprising and shocking today.

Earlier this week, on Monday, it looked like we could have come up with a potential solution, or at least part of a solution, by deploying Kai Havertz at the center of the attack, either as a center-forward or as a center-forward. as false-9 (depending on who you asked). And it was a pretty promising performance that even though Tuchel turned everyone around in attack – and even added an extra player! – he kept Havertz as a de facto attacker.

Sadly, Havertz missed the best chance of the game for Chelsea and, unlike Monday, was also unable to generate scoring chances for the others. The lack of goals was not entirely on him, of course, by no means, but as the man in the head of the attack and presented the majority of the chances (he had 4 of our 15 shots in total, but also 4 of our 8 shots on target), he was certainly expected to convert.

Photo by Darren Walsh / Chelsea FC via Getty Images

It was part of the general disappointment at Elland Road, as Tuchel reflects on afterwards.

“It was pretty much the same role he had against Everton. Kai, I feel comfortable in high positions. I can feel him comfortable sliding into the half-spaces from the high position to maybe turn, drive and use his speed. But it also happens very naturally in the six-meter area. He is comfortable ending our attacks.

“He can play as a number 9, a half-forward or a winger. These are his positions and today we used him again as number 9. I’m happy but unfortunately he couldn’t finish like he does in training and how his talent allows him to finish because we we had enough chances and created enough chances for him to succeed. be the decisive guy.

“He is comfortable in this position and I trust him in this position.

Havertz isn’t the only one who has failed to convert Chelsea’s chances this season (and last, even). I would say it could even be contagious, but perhaps it is an inappropriate metaphor to use in the midst of a pandemic. Either way, Havertz joins the rest of the failed crew, though in his case we can at least take some comfort in the fact that he finally appears to be fully healed from his injuries and post-COVID discomfort.

Photo by Lee Smith – Pool / Getty Images

Meanwhile, Tuchel continues to seek balance. He seemed to be taking a risk by weighting the attack today which didn’t pay off, and in fact we had Edouard Mendy’s strong hands to thank for at least one point. But as a coach you can’t just use the final score to make decisions.

“It will always be a team effort to attack and always a team effort to defend.

“We have to admit that we put a lot of pressure on the pitch, that our attackers have never stopped working, that our front line never stops to build up intensity and counter pressure. So do they always arrive in the coolest times? No, they don’t. of course not in a game like an opponent like Leeds.

“And I still believe that we have the quality to better use the chances, to better use the moments of half-chances and counter-attacks, to create more and be more clinical. But it remains our responsibility, my responsibility to create more and maybe have better chances, but if we win this game with one or two goals, we will talk about it totally differently and we will stay focused on performance.

-Thomas Tuchel; source: Football.London

And so, the research continues.