In his 400 days since taking charge of Chelsea, Thomas Tuchel has guided them to four major finals in four different competitions. He’s won two and lost two, but can convincingly argue that the global reach of the pair he was victorious in — the Champions League and Club World Cup — mean he is more than breaking even.
The lost finals — last May against Leicester City in the FA Cup, and Sunday’s defeat via a marathon penalty shoot-out to Liverpool in the League Cup, were domestic prizes — and in the second of them, Chelsea can hardly be scorned for not providing amply to a brilliant contest, nor to adding a fresh talking point about Tuchel’s detailed strategic thinking.
The German has a knack of successfully negotiating knockout competitions. Two successive Champions League finals, with two different clubs — Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea — in the last two seasons endorse that. Both were journeys characterised by telling substitutions at key stages, and if any manager can truly claim to influence the high-pressure, one-against-one duel that is a penalty shoot-out to decide the destiny of a trophy, Tuchel is that manager.
He won a further ‘final’ last August, the one-off Uefa Super Cup, victory over Villarreal decided by shoot-out and featuring a change of goalkeeper at the end of extra-time.
On that occasion, Kepa Arrizabalaga concentrated a full two years worth of emotion into 20 minutes. He, the most expensive goalkeeper in history, had lost his place as Chelsea’s first choice in 2020. But Tuchel, advised by a team of analysts and his own instincts, deems Kepa superior in one aspect to Edouard Mendy, the keeper who had eclipsed Kepa in the hierarchy: Saving penalties. So Kepa came on for Mendy simply for the shoot-out against Villarreal. He kept out two of Villarreal’s seven penalties, Chelsea winning it 6-5.
“Proof,” said Tuchel at the time, “that Kepa is better in this discipline,” detailing the process of data analysis, consultation and prematch discussion with both Mendy and Kepa about the tactic of replacing the main gloveman with his tall deputy if penalties were needed.
Nor is it ever just about the shooting and saving. Kepa’s brief, but heralded role in the Super Cup included his being booked, for gestures and movements deemed to unsettle one of Villarreal’s spot-kickers.
Fast-forward to Abu Dhabi last month, and more carefully rehearsed mind-games around another crucial Chelsea penalty. This one came in extra-time of the Club World Cup final, with Chelsea drawing 1-1 with Palmeiras. Success from the spot would spare Chelsea a shoot-out tie-breaker. Cesar Azpilicueta feigned as if he was going to take the penalty, drawing the attention of Palmeiras players who, by word and gesture, sought to unsettle him. It was a ruse. Kai Havertz, standing clear of the hubbub, stepped up late to take the spot-kick, and scored.
“Brilliant,” beamed Tuchel of the Azpilicueta decoy, “how [Azpilicueta] protected Kai for the penalty.”
Chelsea beat Atletico in Uefa Super Cup: player ratings
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CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy – 7. Had to be alert to block Dia in the first half. Spared humiliation after Gerard Moreno hit the post after he slipped when playing out a goal kick. Made way for Arrizabalaga before the shoot out -
Kurt Zouma – 7. Had a chance for a rare goal after an appetising cross by Ziyech at a free kick, but blazed over at full stretch. Rarely troubled at the back before he made way for Christensen. -
Trevoh Chalobah – 8. Showed nerves as he missed his first kick in the opening play of the game, but settled admirably. Made an athletic interception from a cross in the second half, as part of a bright defensive display. -
Antonio Rudiger – 6. Seemed in a grumpy mood from the start, and was booked for his follow through in a hefty tackle that floored Yeremi. Wayward pass led to Villarreal’s leveller. Powered his penalty home. -
Callum Hudson-Odoi – 6. Wasteful at set pieces, and unnecessarily gave away a corner early on. Huffed and puffed going forward, without much joy. -
N’Golo Kante – 8. Here. There. Everywhere. As usual. Also went close with a shot as Chelsea dominated the early exchanges. -
Mateo Kovacic – 6. Made a sloppy start. Tightened up as Chelsea assumed control of possession, but started to lapse again after the interval – only to find yet more energy in extra time -
Marcos Alonso – 6. Had his foot stamped on by Gerard Moreno early on, but still showed up well in the early throes. Put Havertz in space to set up the first goal. Influence waned as the game wore on. Slipped, but still scored his penalty -
Hakim Ziyech – 7. Richly merited his 27th minute goal as he had been a threat from the off, but was forced off before half time with a shoulder injury -
Kai Havertz – 7. The German forward crossed for Ziyech to score the opener, and warmed to his task well after a quiet start. Had the ffirst penalty of the shoot out saved. -
Timo Werner – 5. A new season, but the same old Timo Werner on this evidence. Had some chances, but still looks light on confidence. -
SUBS: Christian Pulisic – 6. On for the injured Ziyech before half time, but did not exert the same influence as the man he replaced. Missed a good chance in extra time. Recovered to bury his penalty. -
Jorginho – 7. Took the captain’s armband when he came on for Kante, only to later pass it on to Azpilicueta. Mishit a shot that could have won the game, with time ticking down. Coolness personified from the spot. -
Mason Mount – 6. Looked keen to make his mark when he was brought on late on, but was understandably short of his best after the truncated pre-season. Made no mistake with his penalty. -
Andreas Christensen – 6. Little troubled after coming on for Zouma in the second half, even if Villarreal did equalise on his watch. -
Cesar Azpilicueta – 6. His introduction helped ease the workload on the outstanding Chalobah. Took a shameful dive looking for a penalty in extra time. Buried his penalty. -
Kepa Arrizabalaga – 8. Brought on exclusively for penalties. Saved the second and seventh to win it for Chelsea. -
VILLARREAL RATINGS: Sergio Asenjo – 9. Made an excellent save from a Werner volley after the Villareal defence were absent at a corner, in a busy first half. It was the first of many. Did not deserve to be on the losing team. -
Juan Foyth – 7. His driving run and throughball nearly helped Villarreal back on level terms, but Dia’s shot was well saved by Mendy. Not always convincing in defence, but better when he moved into midfield. Scored his spot kick. -
Raul Albiol – 7. Had an air shot with a volley at a corner which was the Spanish side’s first chance, but was a formidable presence at the back. Saw the crucial penalty saved. -
Pau Torres – 7. An extraordinary feat of endurance to play 120 minutes, having been to both the Euros and the Olympics, and had not had a break. -
Alfonso Pedraza – 6. The first player withdrawn, early in the second half, as he struggled to make his mark. -
Manu Trigueros – 6. Botched a great opportunity after Villarreal had a free kick to the right of Chelsea’s box. -
Etienne Capoue – 6. Looked laboured, with a heavily strapped right leg and after a knock in the second half. -
Alberto Moreno – 7. Often loose in possession in a wayward first half display by the Spanish side. Crashed a thunderous volley against the Chelsea cross bar, and was a threat in the second half. -
Yeremi Pino – 7. His chances to attack were often stymied by having to defend Alonso breaks, and he was lucky to bounce back after Rudiger’s robust challenge. Industrious throughout, though. -
Gerard Moreno – 9. Constructive in attack for others, and struck a post after being presented with a free run on goal from a slip by Mendy. Took his goal majestically. Hit his penalty in off the post in the shoot out. -
Boulaye Dia – 8. Thwarted by Mendy after he was put through by Foyth. His adroit backheel set up Gerard Moreno for the equaliser -
SUBS: Pervis Estupinan – 6. Shot straight at Mendy when well placed to level, after he came on for Pedraza. Coolly slotted his spot kick in the shoot out. -
Mario Gaspar – 7. Brought about a reshuffle when he came on at right back, and added a freshness to his side. -
Moi Gomez – 6. Worked hard to stem Chelsea’s attack in extra time, and got under Mount’s skin in the process. Squeezed his penalty past Kepa. -
Manu Morlanes – 6. Played his part in the group effort as it was all hands to the pump by the end. -
Daniel Raba – 6. Tenaciously went about his work in extra time after being brought on before the end of the 90 minutes. Booked for felling Pulisic. Struck the penalty that took it to sudden death. -
Aissa Mandi – 6. The Algerian had little chance to make an impression after being brought on at the start of the additional 30 minutes. Made Kepa’s job easy with his soft penalty
The trouble with any strategic novelty is that it seldom carries a lifetime guarantee. Kepa again replaced Mendy just before the shoot-out on Sunday, and, in a roulette of spot-kicks where standards had been set as high as the football during the 120 minutes of open play, Kepa saved none of Liverpool’s 11 kicks, the shoot-out extending deep in sudden death. Kepa had to take Chelsea’s 11th kick and he missed.
After the game, Tuchel would not criticise his goalkeeper, his penalty-saving specialist, for a failure in penalty-taking, and he is expected to continue his studied nurturing of Kepa’s reputation, which reached rock bottom in the months before Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard last year.
“Nobody deserves blame for missing a chance,” said Tuchel yesterday, also exempting Mason Mount for not seizing opportunities to win the League Cup final during its goalless two hours. Kepa may well start as Chelsea set about the next bid for a knockout prize, against Luton Town, of the second-tier Championship, on Wednesday with a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals at stake.
It’s a fixture with its own ghosts for Kepa from earlier in his up-and-down Chelsea career. He was the designated FA Cup keeper throughout last season’s run to the final, including in a fourth round meeting with Luton, when his error threatened a comeback from the underdogs with Chelsea leading 2-0. It finished 3-1. Lampard was sacked two days later.
So are the first 400, eventful days of Tuchel’s reign framed, between cup ties against Luton. In between them are three trophies, two lost finals, and some hit-and-miss strategising around penalties. A busy Chelsea and their manager hope no shoot-out is required this evening.
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Chelsea celebrate winning the Fifa Club World Cup final after defeating Palmeiras at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, February 12, 2022. All images Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta celebrates winning the Fifa Club World Cup final in Abu Dhabi. -
Kai Havertz scores the winner for Chelsea against Palmeiras in the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. -
Chelsea celebrate after Romelu Lukaku scored against Palmeiras in the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. -
Romelu Lukaku scored Chelsea's opener against Palmeiras in the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. -
Raphael Veiga of Palmeiras scores from the penalty spot. -
Former Chelsea captain John Terry during the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. -
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel speaks with Mateo Kovacic. -
Palmeiras fans set off a flare during the final at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. -
Chelsea fans during the final at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. -
Palmeiras fans at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
