Thomas Tuchel achieved his task for the season in three weeks. In five league games, Chelsea have gone up five places. Ninth has become fourth, a wretched season a reasonable one.
If Frank Lampard's sacking stemmed from a fear of missing out on the Champions League, Tuchel's immediate impact suggests that Chelsea can assume their usual place among the European elite again next season.
The fixture list may have offered a honeymoon period. Lampard's last five league games were against Arsenal, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Fulham and Leicester. Tuchel has faced Wolves, Burnley, a dreadful Tottenham, Sheffield United and Newcastle, plus Barnsley in the FA Cup.
His next six matches – Southampton, Atletico Madrid, Manchester United, Everton, Leeds and Atletico – promise to be tougher.
And yet his influence is undeniable. His imprint has been on results and selection alike. Lampard departed with three clean sheets in 12 games, one against League Two Morecambe and another versus 10-man Fulham.
Tuchel has five in six; the only man to score against his Chelsea is Antonio Rudiger, with a farcical own goal at Sheffield United. That no opponent has found their net illustrates what an aberration it is.
Tuchel’s reputation as a gegenpresser has been deceptive. His has been a pragmatic start; perhaps he felt introducing a more energetic style midway through a season with the most congested fixture list was risky.
With eight goals in six games, Chelsea have not proved prolific but solidity has been prioritised and secured.
It is notable Tuchel has seen out wins against low-scoring Sheffield United and Newcastle sides with two banks of three: a trio of defensive midfielders ahead of the three centre-backs, with bringing on N’Golo Kante to shore things up already looking a signature substitution.
Tuchel’s initial preference for an Antonio Conte-esque 3-4-2-1 is telling. He has stretched back into Chelsea’s past, reviving the captain Cesar Azpilicueta’s career in the role he filled for Conte, on the right of the back three.
He has rejuvenated Maurizio Sarri’s favourite, Jorginho, even if there is the sense he may be displaced by Kante. He declared he “loved” Mateo Kovacic, arguably Chelsea’s best player last season but more of a fringe figure this year.
_______________________________________________________________
FA Cup player ratings: Barnsley 0 Chelsea 1
-
BARNSLEY PLAYER RATINGS: GK Brad Collins, 6 – He was probably anticipating a busy evening when he saw the team sheets, but the 23-year-old - who started his career with Chelsea - didn’t have to make a single save to make either side of Tammy Abraham’s 64th minute strike. PA -
DF Callum Brittain, 7 – Came desperately close to bundling the Tykes in front when he produced a bursting charge into the box to nip in front of Marcos Alonso, but he could only place his effort straight at Kepa. He had the better of Christian Pulisic at the other end too. Getty Images -
DF Toby Sibbick, 7 - Solid. He showed excellent reading of the game in the opening exchanges, anticipating Marcos Alonso’s ball pass the line and shepherding the ball out of play, although he got away with one when he brought down Abraham in the box. Reuters -
DF Michal Helik, 7 - Like his teammates, he kept the Chelsea forwards quiet for the duration of the game in an impressive outing, but he was caught pressing as the Blues finally unlocked the stubborn Tykes. An impressive night’s work nonetheless. Reuters -
DF Mads Andersen, 7 – Became the second man to survive a penalty shout from Abraham in a matter of minutes after a tussle which left Martin Atkinson unmoved and Abraham unhappy. Good strength from the Dane who held his own at the back. Reuters -
MF Callum Styles, 6 - Probably the quietest of the Barnsley midfielders, but that means little considering that his side scrapped for every ball from the first whistle, although he’ll be disappointed that he couldn’t quite block repel James’ cross with a last-ditch slide. Getty Images -
MF Alex Mowatt, 8 – Showed excellent feet to cut back onto his right foot before clipping an excellent cross into the box as Barnsley went close, and he asked questions with some well-taken set-pieces throughout the tie. A classy outing from the Barnsley skipper. AP -
MF Herbie Kane, 7 - The ex-Liverpool man will have been determined not to become the second Kane to exit the FA Cup in as many days. He could probably see the headlines when a loose ball fell into his path on the edge of the box, but he struck well wide of the target. Reuters -
MF Conor Chaplin, 7 - The midfielder was always popping up in dangerous areas and he was desperately close to striking gold when his low strike somehow evaded the corner after clipping Victor Adeboyejo, although his next effort was significantly less troublesome. Reuters -
FW Victor Adeboyejo, 6 - Nigerian-born striker Adeboyejo will have been desperate to emulate compatriot Kayode Odejayi who stunned the Blues in 2008, and he would have done had Conor Chaplin’s strike ended up a few inches to the right after striking the forward. Reuters -
FW Cauley Woodrow, 7 – 11 goals already for one of Barnsley’s standout performers this campaign. He fizzed an early sighter comfortably over the bar and that set the tone for his evening as a tireless performance when unrewarded on this occasion. Reuters -
SUBS: DF Michael Sollbauer, NR - Replaced Toby Sibbick. He was painfully close to a dramatic equaliser with his first touch, only for Abraham to turn the ball over the bar with a sublime clearance. PA -
DF Jordan Williams, NR - Replaced Callum Brittain following a brilliant night’s work, although his introduction didn’t really change the complexion of the tie. PA -
MF Romal Palmer, NR - Replaced Herbie Kane. He worked hard, but unfortunately his only chance of note struck Billy Gimour. AFP -
MF Dominik Frieser, 6 - Replaced Chaplin in midfield in a double-change just before the hour-mark. Reuters -
FW Daryl Dike, 5 - Replaced Victor Adeboyejo but with little effect as, like the man he replaced, he struggled to make things happen. Reuters -
CHELSEA PLAYER RATINGS: GK Kepa Arrizabalaga, 7 – The appropriately named stopper has been promised a fresh start by Thomas Tuchel and he rewarded his manager with a super save to deny Brittain from point-blank range. An assured night’s work and a well-deserved clean sheet. Reuters -
DF Emerson, 6 - Nothing disastrous, but he struggled to deal with the likes of Alex Mowatt in spells and will have been thankful for the switch to left-back following Reece James’ arrival, where he was much more assured. AFP -
DF Andreas Christensen, 6 - The only survivor from last weekend’s win at nearby Sheffield United, he was in the right place to nod away Kane’s cross, although he was in some discomfort after a clash of heads with Cauley Woodrow and was withdrawn at the break. Getty Images -
DF Kurt Zouma 7 - The towering defender had to be on his toes as Barnsley delivered a series of calculated crosses into dangerous areas, but he stuck to his task well with some important interventions to repel the ball away to safety. Reuters -
DF Marcos Alonso, 5 – Almost an unlucky 13th FA Cup appearance in Chelsea colours for the full-back, who was mightily lucky not to be punished after allowing Brittain to evade his attention and was replaced by James at the interval. Reuters -
MF N'Golo Kante, 6 - The stand-in skipper made a much more subtle start to the contest than we’re probably used to. He improved after the break though, sitting deep and dictating play from the middle as Chelsea started to show more authority. Getty Images -
MF Billy Gilmour, 6 – A first start under new boss Tuchel for the classy Chelsea youngster. His side were sloppy though and he struggled to make an impact for large spells, but to his credit he picked out the run of James to supply the cross for Abraham to make it 1-0. Reuters -
MF Callum Hudson-Odoi, 7 - One of Chelsea’s better performers. The England man put in plenty of yards and almost caused chaos when his deep cross dropped kindly for Pulisic. His fizzed second-half strike was close, but always bending away from the far corner. Reuters -
MF Hakim Ziyech, 5 - Way off his electric best. He grew into the game as it progressed after a timid opening 45 minutes, but despite a couple of nicely slipped passes down the line for Hudson-Odoi to pursue, he was replaced with just over 20 minutes to go. Getty Images -
MF Christian Pulisic, 4 - The American is yet to rediscover the clinical form he showed last season, and that was the case again here as he struggled to get involved and was marshalled all too easily by Toby Sibbick. Reuters -
FW Tammy Abraham, 8 - The difference. A frustrating start was epitomised by two penalty shouts that went unheeded, but his efforts were finally rewarded when he tapped home from James’ cross and he produced a huge goal line clearance to preserve his side’s lead. AFP -
SUBS: DF Reece James, 7 - Replaced Marcos Alonso at half-time and that was to prove a pivotal moment as the young full-back capped a characteristic burst forward by putting the ball on a plate for Abraham. PA -
DF Antonio Rudiger, 7 - Brought on for Andreas Christensen at the break. He provided some much-needed authority at the back with a couple of vital headers to thwart Brittain and then Kane. He went close at the other end too, powering Hakim Ziyech’s free-kick just wide. AP -
MF Tino Anjorin, 6 - The teenager replaced an underpar Ziyech in the 69th minute for only his second FA Cup appearance. AFP -
MF Mateo Kovacic, NR - Replaced Pulisic for the final ten minutes as Tuchel looked to see the game out. PA
_______________________________________________________________
His wing-backs have been instrumental, his choice of them instructive. The reinvention of Callum Hudson-Odoi on the right has made him the first Chelsea manager to truly trust a talent Bayern Munich wanted.
He renaissance of Marcos Alonso on the left has been based in part because he adds height to a short side, but plays to his attacking strengths.
Tuchel’s tactical cleverness was apparent in the way Alonso and Timo Werner exchanged positions on Monday, the wing-back sometimes underlapping and the “left 10”, in the forward’s words, appearing outside him, it came ahead of a base of five more defensive players.
But the losers from the new regime have tended to be Lampard’s players; in some cases, his proteges. Only Mason Mount of those most associated with the former manager seems in Tuchel’s strongest side.
Ben Chilwell, the signing Lampard pushed for most, and Reece James, promoted ahead of Azpilicueta by him, have been benched. Kurt Zouma, in fine form earlier this season, is the last-choice centre-back.
Christian Pulisic, Chelsea’s best player in summer and a player whose Dortmund debut came under Tuchel, and Hakim Ziyech, another Lampard recruit, look back-ups now.
Because the switch to 3-4-2-1 leaves five players competing for two berths as inside forwards. That Kai Havertz is injured means it is unsure where he figures in the pecking order. But Werner, the other expensive German Tuchel was surely hired to revitalise, is not seen as a lone striker.
He has proved a story of Tuchel's reign – winning penalties, missing chances, working hard – until finally his 1,000-minute Premier League drought ended on Monday. The personal importance means it may yet prove the most significant goal under Tuchel.
