Thomas Tuchel brought up 100 days at Chelsea on Thursday, fresh from becoming the first manager to reach back-to-back Champions League finals with different clubs. The temptation is to call in the first 100 days in charge of anything since Franklin Delano Roosevelt coined the phrase and made an immediate impact.
As Timo Werner put it: “When we started under the new manager we were 10th in the league. Now we can reach everything.” It might not have made for pleasant listening for Frank Lampard, but Chelsea could do the Di Matteo double of winning the FA Cup and the Champions League, but with the bonus of a top-four finish as well.
It may say something for the peculiar dynamics of a club that has institutionalised instability that Chelsea have reached three Champions League finals, each after a mid-season managerial switch.
If Manchester City represent one model, qualifying for the final in their fifth season under Pep Guardiola and with a squad largely signed by him, Chelsea are another.
Saturday's league game is a dress rehearsal for the showpiece in Istanbul; perhaps for next season’s title race, too. City could clinch the title now, but they are the only team with more points than Chelsea since Tuchel’s arrival. No one has conceded fewer. And he has done it with his predecessors’ players, in a quintessentially Chelsea way.
The pattern of rejuvenating those who had been consigned to the margins continues. In 2012, Lampard captained Chelsea after a season when he had been dropped at times by Andre Villas-Boas. In 2021, Cesar Azpilicueta, demoted to second-choice right-back by Lampard, will lead out Tuchel’s team, his fortunes transformed to such an extent that he now looks the first choice in two positions.
Antonio Rudiger only started one league game before Christmas, but is now a cornerstone of the defence. Chelsea have only conceded nine goals in the 27 matches he has started.
Jorginho, who indelicately suggested that Lampard was not ready for the Chelsea job, is the Maurizio Sarri ally who has produced his best Blues form for Tuchel. Alongside him, N’Golo Kante has proved that, while Sarri and Lampard rarely played him as such, he is at his finest as a “double six,” in Tuchel’s terminology, one of two defensive midfielders.
That Kante and Kevin de Bruyne have both got three of Uefa’s man-of-the-match awards in the knockout stages sets the scene nicely for a final battle between destroyer and creator. That Kante was honoured for both legs against Real Madrid highlighted his influence. A catalyst in winning Premier Leagues and a World Cup may add another medal. He proved the scourge of Real’s ageing midfield. They looked a team in decline. The balance of power in Europe has seemed to shift north.
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Chelsea v Real Madrid player ratings
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CHELSEA PLAYER RATINGS: Edouard Mendy 8 – Pulled off two spectacular saves to deny Benzema and ensure Chelsea kept their deserved advantage in the tie. Aside from those stops, commanded his area well and was reliable under the high ball. Getty Images -
Andreas Christensen 8 – Danish centre-back played his part in a rock solid defensive performance from Chelsea. Positionally excellent, strong in the challenge, and brought the ball out confidently combined with good distribution. PA -
Thiago Silva 8 – A second successive Champions League final for the classy Brazilian, who marshalled the Chelsea defence with his typical composure. Had a couple of good chances to get on the scoresheet, too. Reuters -
Antonio Rudiger 9 – The German has been rejuvenated under Thomas Tuchel. Dominated in the air, won every tackle, and his sharp anticipation allowed him to cut off Real Madrid attacks and balls over the top. Reuters -
Cesar Azpilicueta 9 – The Chelsea captain led by example. His positional discipline and concentration saw him keep former teammate Hazard quiet and he helped launch counter-attacks down the right side. EPA -
N’Golo Kante 8 – Man of the match in the first leg, dominant again in the second; the French midfielder produced another trademark performance of breaking up play all over the pitch, protected his defenders, and offered support in attack. Will never be judged on his finishing but should have done better when through on goal. Getty Images -
Jorginho 7 – Italian midfielder went about his usual business, delivering measured passes and holding his position well in a game Chelsea dominated. However, his team’s lack of possession meant he was not as influential as in games when the Blues control the ball. AP -
Ben Chilwell 7 – The English wing-back comfortably won his duel with Vinicius Junior and offered a frequent option in attack. Should have had an assist if Werner had checked his run. Getty Images -
Kai Havertz 8 – The 21-year-old German is getting better by the week after a stop-start season. Always looked dangerous on the ball, ran Ramos and the rest of the Madrid backline ragged, and his clipped effort against the crossbar led to Werner’s opener. Hit the bar again with a header and should have scored when one-on-one with Courtois. His uptick in form bodes well for next season. EPA -
Timo Werner – 7 – Scored his first goal from open play in the Champions League this season with a point-blank header into an open goal. Beyond that vital contribution, his pace and dribbling caused Madrid plenty of problems. Should have scored earlier but strayed offside. EPA -
Mason Mount 8 – Chelsea’s player of the season was instrumental once again. Despite not seeing as much of the ball as he would have liked, Mount was always dangerous on the break and helped the Blues launch numerous counters. Scored the goal that killed the tie, although should have done so earlier when he blazed an effort over the bar. EPA -
SUBS: Christian Pulisic (for Werner 68’) 8 – Perhaps smarting at not making the starting XI after his goalscoring contribution in the first leg, the American forward played like a man with a point to prove. Ripped Madrid apart every time he was on the ball and set up Mount for the all-important second goal. Getty Images -
Reece James (for Azpilicueta 88’) – N/R – Sent on to give Chelsea fresh legs after Azpilicueta’s all-action display. Reuters -
Hakim Ziyech (For Mount 89’) – N/R – Another substitution to provide late energy for Chelsea as the Blues looked to see out the game. Reuters -
Olivier Giroud (For Havertz 90’) – N/R – Classic time-wasting substitution from Tuchel. Reuters -
REAL MADRID PLAYER RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois 7 – Couldn’t do much to prevent either goal but kept his side in the tie with save after save until Mount’s late finish. EPA -
Ferland Mendy 6 – Returning to the side after injury, the French full-back struggled to make much of an impact in forward areas and was often exposed when Chelsea countered. Getty Images -
Sergio Ramos 5 – Rushed back into the team after a six-week layoff, Ramos was understandably off the pace. Given the runaround by Havertz and the rest of the Chelsea attack. Picked up a booking for a rash challenge. Reuters -
Eder Militao 6 – Struggled against the pace of Werner and was often left outnumbered down his side of the pitch. Reuters -
Nacho 7 – The pick of the Real Madrid defenders but his frustrations threatened to boil over and was booked for his clash with Havertz. EPA -
Luka Modric 5 – The Croatian midfielder looked leggy and his impact on the game was limited. One tame long-range effort straight at Mendy summed up his performance. Reuters -
Casemiro 6 – The Brazilian played his part in helping Madrid maintain possession and stuck to his defensive duties, although given his role in the team, was guilty of allowing Chelsea the time and space to launch their many counter-attacks. AFP -
Toni Kroos 5 – Similar to Modric, the German’s creative influence was practically non-existent. Struggled to stamp any authority on the game. AFP -
Eden Hazard 4 – Back at the club where he became a superstar, the Belgian was completely ineffective, save for one decent strike that was easily dealt with by Mendy. Looked a player short of match fitness. PA -
Karim Benzema 6 – The French striker was once again his team’s main attacking threat and he was twice denied by superb stops from Mendy. However, beyond those efforts, never again tested the Chelsea goal. EPA -
Vinicius Junior 5 – Easily dealt with by Chilwell when in attack and struggled with his defensive duties. A quiet, ineffective game from the Brazilian. Getty Images -
SUBS: Federico Valverde (for Mendy 63’) 5 – Brought on in an attacking switch, the midfielder struggled to make much of an impact, although produced a fine last-ditch block on Kante. PA -
Marco Asensio (for Vinicius 63’) 5 – Another change from Zidane that ultimately made little difference to the outcome of the game. AP -
Rodrygo (for Casemiro 76’) 6 – Had a few glimpses that demonstrated the danger he can provide but didn’t get enough time on the pitch or on the ball. EPA -
Mariano Diaz (For Hazard 90’) – N/R – Sent on for Hazard but had few minutes to impact the game. AP
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Chelsea have dented Real’s chances of renewal. Kai Havertz struck the woodwork twice in another game where he provided everything but the goal. Rewind a little over a year and the expectation in Germany was that he would join Real. Then Covid exerted an effect on their finances and Chelsea took advantage of a market where others could not spend. And yet even as Havertz and Werner’s misses are preventing Tuchel’s Chelsea from being more prolific with a recurring theme of control being undermined by profligacy, it is notable that Mason Mount remains the automatic choice in the front three.
Lampard's protégé is a study in exponential improvement. There was something symbolic in him scoring the goal that clinched Chelsea's place in the final, just as there was when he got the opener in Porto and the winner against Liverpool.
It was impossible not to hark back 20 months to Old Trafford, to Lampard’s old mentor Jose Mourinho criticising him for pitching the youngster in for a Premier League debut at Old Trafford. Mourinho was far from Mount’s only doubter, but he is not alone in being proved spectacularly wrong. Mount looks a shoo-in to be named Chelsea’s player of the year, in what might yet prove the outstanding campaign in their history.
“We can achieve greatness,” said Mount. They can do it in an inimitably Chelsea way, of expensive underachievement and unhappy mediocrity giving way to something special.
