https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2021/11/27/ -it-needs-a-very-good-mix-to-produce-numbers-like-that----tuchel 'It needs a very good mix to produce numbers like that' – Tuchel on Chelsea's defensive fortitude 27 Nov 2021 Since Thomas Tuchel took over at Stamford Bridge, no team in Europe's top five leagues has a better defensive record than Chelsea. The boss has been explaining why he thinks that is. https://i.imgur.com/TDUurF6.jpg Tuchel celebrated his 50th game in charge of the Blues in some style against Juventus, as his team racked up four goals without reply in one of the most convincing performances of his reign so far. There was a comfortingly familiar feel to the way in which we shut out the Italian giants. Retaining possession and pinning our opponents back has been the story of much of Tuchel's time at Chelsea thus far. On the two occasions outstanding defensive work was required, Thiago Silva raced back to clear Alvaro Morata's lob, and Edou Mendy tipped over Weston McKennie's drive. An astonishing 31st clean sheet since Tuchel came in was secured with the minimum of fuss. We have conceded just 24 goals in that time. They are both comfortably Europe-leading statistics. How have we managed it? Tuchel reckons it is a healthy blend of his team selection and tactics, 'the mentality shaped by the club', the Chelsea players' quality and commitment, and, of course, a bit of luck. 'Many times attacking is a good way to defend your own goal, and sometimes in the 50 matches we were forced to overcome difficult moments,' he noted. 'Sometimes we had to dig in and defend deep, which we don't like too much, but I feel the players are very open to finding solutions and going through difficult moments. https://i.imgur.com/VwgDUWl.jpg Commitment and then quality from Thiago Silva 'It's a team sport, it's what we all love about it,' he added. 'We attack together and defend together. There are many ways to defend: high pressing, counter-pressing, sitting deep. They are all allowed, and every way is beautiful. We are constantly on it, but it's not the case we spend 90 per cent of our time thinking about defensive solutions. It's more or less the opposite. 'The open-minded players and the quality of the players, in combination with the mentality of the club, is a very good mix to produce numbers like this.' After the Juve win, Tuchel expressed gratitude towards his players for the 'invisible work' they put in. But what does Tuchel mean by invisible work? He has given an example which demonstrates the lengths his players are prepared to go to in their quest for clean sheets and defensive excellence. 'If you look at the goal from N'Golo at Leicester, I was surprised when I saw it again and realised Toni Rudiger was the first one to be there and congratulate and hug him. How fast did that happen?! He scored from the 18-yard box! 'When you look at it in detail, while N'Golo is driving with the ball, you will see Toni is closing the space and doing this kind of invisible work to close a striker down, [Ademola] Lookman. If the shot was blocked, and the ball came into that area, Toni is the first one to counter-press. He takes the responsibility so Lookman cannot get the ball freely, turn and initiate a counter-attack that ends with Vardy scoring. https://i.imgur.com/hTIXfsF.jpg There is a reason why Rudi was one of the first on the scene here... 'This is the kind of work where we are taking care with our roles. Toni's work was very humble because it's not often N'Golo scores from 18 yards on his left foot. He did not just step back and watch, he did his part.' As, right now, is everyone in blue. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2021/11/28/tuchel--how-we-turned-form-around Tuchel: How we turned form around 28 Nov 2021 Two months ago Chelsea lost back-to-back games. They were by no means easy fixtures – home against Manchester City and away to Juventus – and they were both by a 1-0 margin but even so, following those results, the talking started. https://i.imgur.com/6aH35KX.jpg It was talking in the outside world as the Blues' credentials were questioned but also talking within the camp as the blip in form after a strong start to the season was addressed. What followed was a win at home to Southampton that began the current impressive unbeaten run. As Thomas Tuchel recalls, there were no big crisis talks between him and the squad in the wake of losing in Italy, just little but important adjustments made. 'We had a little meeting, a very short one right after the match in the dressing room, and then on the way home,' he says as he begins the explanation of the days that followed. 'We changed a bit the approach towards the team with a bit in training and a bit in our style of playing. It's not about being super-angry or blaming somebody, but it was the moment to turn every stone and this is what we did for the next days in the coaching office, to find the mix between being honest, being critical but also supportive, to show a way out of this in which we believe and that suits us. https://i.imgur.com/O7gI9vS.jpg Disappointment in Italy after our last defeat 'That obviously is with the help of the team,' the boss continues. 'With the openness of the team and the mentality, we did it. 'We hate to lose but sometimes it happens and we clearly were not on our best level. We lacked a certain sharpness, we looked not very confident on this particular day. We were not happy with the performance and the result and it was a moment to shake things up, but not in a crazy way.' Having highlighted that part of the process was within the coaching team alone, Tuchel goes on to explain how it works between them following defeats. 'It hurts me every single time, make no mistake,' he begins. 'I'm super-protected by my staff, they know me, I know them, and then we have new input here [within Chelsea] with our two assistant coaches and the goalkeeper coaches. 'We're all in one office, we also are like one team and we are brutally honest to each other. Sometimes I confront them with my doubts, somebody else has doubts, we all have different opinions, and then we start digging and start asking ourselves what here is on us, how did we not see it, could we have seen it, what could we have done better, what can we change. Everything is on the table. https://i.imgur.com/dwhYXgJ.jpg The boss and his assistants celebrating during the home victory vs Juve 'You need to have trust and openness within the team to figure out which way we go and which way we show to the team. It is my job to lead a process like this and then to focus on one or two solutions and bring them to the players. 'Sometimes it is necessary to refocus, resharpen and be honest and critical with a team and show them a way out, and then also demonstrate that you are still with them and back them up because we do this together.' -- ╔══╗╔╗╔╗╔══╗╔╗ ╔══╗╔══╗╔══╗ ║╔═╝║╚╝║║╔═╝║║ ║╔═╝║╔═╝║╔╗║ ║║ ║╔╗║║╔═╝║║ ╚═╗║║╔═╝║╚╝║ ║╚═╗║║║║║╚═╗║╚═╗╔═╝║║╚═╗║╔╗║ ╚══╝╚╝╚╝╚══╝╚══╝╚══╝╚══╝╚╝╚╝ --

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