Thomas Tuchel is weighing up the gamble of whether to bring Thiago Silva and N’Golo Kante back for Chelsea's League Cup semi-final second leg against Tottenham Hotspur a day after they emerge from isolation.
The German had to change both team and system when the Brazilian defender and the French midfielder tested positive for coronavirus before the 2-0 win over Spurs in the first leg at Stamford Bridge.
And as he prepares for the return fixture on Wednesday, Tuchel illustrated the uncertainty of trying to pick a side in uncertain times. “We have to wait for a last-minute position on Thiago and N’Golo,” he said.
“We have training at 4pm so you hope everybody makes it into the building with a negative test. That is never 100 per cent sure. You can only be sure one hour before training. It is more or less a daily routine. It is demanding but not impossible.
“If you want to release players after being positive like N’Golo and Thiago Silva, you have to follow some official protocols and then you have to be very flexible. It can be that both of them arrive later in the afternoon and train. If they are in training, then we see how they respond. If we do it, it is a gamble and I am not sure how much of a responsibility we can take there.”
Tuchel started with a back four for the first time as Chelsea manager last week because, without Silva, he did not have three central defenders and two wing-backs.
While he has more players available now, injuries to Reece James and Ben Chilwell have left him short of players on either flank and considering transfers. “The areas are clear where we are looking to the market,” he said, while adding he had “no news” on the possibility Chelsea can recall Emerson Palmieri from his loan at Lyon.
But one of Chelsea’s biggest signings is back in the side. With Edouard Mendy at the African Cup of Nations, the £71 million goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is set for his longest spell in the team since 2019-20. With a semi-final against Spurs and a Premier League clash with Manchester City, there will be focus on the Spaniard.
Chelsea 2 Spurs 0: first leg player ratings
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CHELSEA RATINGS: Kepa Arrizabalaga - 6, Looked uncomfortable under pressure from Lucas Moura but parried Harry Kane’s free kick away well. Made a strong save to deny Giovani Lo Celso late on. Getty Images -
Cesar Azpilicueta - 8, Was typically reliable whenever called upon defensively, while also making good runs and passes going forward. Made a great header to deny Son Heung-min an early chance in the second half and battled even when injured. Reuters -
Antonio Rudiger - 8, Marshalled Harry Kane expertly and made it look easy, but saw his shot blocked after losing Japhet Tanganga in the opposition box. AP Photo -
Malang Sarr - 7, Made some brilliant challenges, timing one on Moura brilliantly, looking indomitable defensively in the first half. Wasn’t quite as comfortable at times in the second period and got booked for catching Kane with his elbow. Getty Images -
Hakim Ziyech - 8, Floated into nice areas and showed quality on the ball, with his cross from a free kick leading to Chelsea’s second goal of the game. Also stepped in to make a great intervention when Matt Doherty played a threatening ball. Picked out Timo Werner with an outstanding pass but couldn’t capitalise when chances came for a goal of his own. Reuters -
Saul Niguez - 8, The Spaniard should get encouragement from this game having moved the ball well and made some great tackles – especially the ones on Son Heung-min. Was unlucky to see his flick go wide. Reuters -
Jorginho - 7, Was never afraid to demand the ball and moved it well in the middle of the park in a game that often looked comfortable for him. Reuters -
Marcos Alonso - 7, Nipped in well to regain possession and played a nice pass to Havertz for the opener. Made a poor touch that gave Spurs a chance but recovered by blocking Emerson Royal’s cross. Getty Images -
Mason Mount - 6, Looked sharp and was unlucky to see Hugo Lloris hold his threatening cross, though there were times where he shot when a pass might have been the better option. EPA -
Kai Havertz - 7, Took his goal well but should have done better with a chance that came his way soon after. Struggled on until half time despite picking up a hand and head injury. Getty Images -
Romelu Lukaku - 6, Passed behind Havertz in the opening seconds but did win the free kick for Chelsea’s second goal. Missed a good headed chance, hit a weak volley from Alonso’s cross, then hit a late strike straight at Lloris. EPA -
SUB Timo Werner (Havertz, HT) - 6, Made a great burst forward in the build-up to a Ziyech chance, although he did hit a poor shot from a good opportunity. Was unlucky to see his strike go wide after cutting in well, then saw his dinked effort denied by Lloris. Set Lukaku up well for a late shot. PA -
SUB Mateo Kovacic (Mount, 73’) – N/R, Moved the ball well and worked hard to ensure Chelsea maintained their two-goal lead. Getty Images -
SUB Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Niguez, 73’) – N/R, Looked very confident as soon as he came on and could have got an assist if he’d applied a better final pass after drifting behind Harry Winks. However, he hit one shocker of a pass. Getty Images -
SUB Christian Pulisic (Ziyech, 79’) – N/R, Won a free kick in a dangerous area and did a shift at right-back after Azpilicueta went off but overhit a cross. Getty Images -
SUB Harvey Vale (Azpilicueta, 90’) – N/R, This will have been a great game for the youngster to be part of and he provided some nice touches. Reuters -
TOTTENHAM RATINGS: Hugo Lloris - 6, Made a decent save from Havertz’s shot and did well to stop Mount’s cross after awkwardly punching Jorginho’s. Couldn’t do anything for either goal. Did well to stop Werner’s attempt. PA -
Japhet Tanganga - 3, Played a short pass then allowed Havertz to get behind him for the opener. Having completely lost Rudiger from a corner but recovering to deflect the shot wide, the defender headed a free kick delivery onto Ben Davies for the second. He then lost the ball in a dangerous area in the second half but wasn’t punished, before heading well over wITH his own chance came. Reuters -
Davinson Sanchez - 4, Could only turn the ball into his own net while trying to stop Havertz’s shot and struggled at times, conceding the free kick for Chelsea’s second with a sloppy challenge. EPA -
Ben Davies - 5, There is nothing the Welshman could do for his own goal, but he made some good tackles – especially after being moved to the left of a back four in the second half. Reuters -
Emerson Royal - 5, Had moments where he looked weak and sloppy and could have got Kane into a good position if there was quality in his pass. Was so easy for Werner to get past him before shooting but there were times in the second half that he looked good going forward. Getty Images -
Oliver Skipp - 4, Struggled to make an impact throughout and there were points that he simply couldn’t keep up with Chelsea’s midfield. EPA -
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg - 5, His poor clearance gave Havertz a chance and there were times where Chelsea were playing around him. However, he put a greater stamp on the second half and bailed Tanganga out with a good block. Reuters -
Matt Doherty - 5, Looked limited by playing on the left as he often wanted to cut in onto his right foot. However, the Republic of Ireland international did show intent at times and made a good cutback for Moura. Getty Images -
Lucas Moura - 6, Worked hard but struggled for any real opportunities despite being Spurs’ brightest spark for large periods. Sent a volley just over the crossbar when a half-chance finally came. EPA -
Harry Kane - 5, Hardly touched the ball in any areas in which he could cause any sort of danger and his free kick was saved with relative ease. Getty Images -
Son Heung-min - 5, Never got a real chance and will have been frustrated when his corner flashed through the box. Will be left wondering what could have been if Azpilicueta hadn’t got ahead of him to clear. PA -
SUB Tanguy Ndombele (Doherty, HT) - 5, Won a free kick in a dangerous area shortly after coming on but skied his effort and faded out of the game. Getty Images -
SUB Harry Winks (Skipp, 73’) – N/R, Lost Loftus-Cheek within seconds of coming on and put Hojbjerg into an awkward position, failing to look overly convincing. PA -
SUB Giovani Lo Celso (Son, 80’) – N/R, Delivered a good cross from a free kick for Tanganga’s chance and was unlucky to see his shot saved. Reuters -
SUB Bryan Gil (Moura, 80’) – N/R, Turned Pulisic inside out before setting up Lo Celso for Spurs’ best chance of the game. AFP
His Chelsea career has been mixed and contained some high-profile mishaps but the Spaniard won August’s European Super Cup with his penalty saves and Tuchel expressed confidence in Arrizabalaga as he praised him for supporting Mendy.
“I never experienced Kepa nervous,” he said. “Never. Not one single day. I never experienced him jealous. I never experienced him being unhappy for his colleague. The good thing is that there was a very genuine trust once we needed him to play for us and once we let him play. He was very calm and focused.
“I have the feeling that he felt he doesn't need to show it over 90 minutes that he is capable. We are so happy to have him. This is maybe the difference. There's no extra sentence or speech from me. There's no special stuff; it is genuine trust.”
Chelsea were dominant last week but Tuchel denied they have almost booked their place in a fourth final of his brief reign. “I would actually say we have no foot in the final, none of the teams, whether it half a foot or a whole foot, there is no need to waste energy over these things,” he said.
“We had a win but now it starts from scratch. We expect the best possible Tottenham side. It is our obligation to be prepared. We have to be spot on, forget the first result and do it again.”
