Do Chelsea have the CBs to fit Tuchel’s philosophy?

A brief summary of Tuchel’s favoured CB-profile

Ball Retention and Progression

A 3-2 base remains the focal point of Tuchel’s attacking philosophy; a foundation which sets to attract the opposition’s press, creating space for vertical progression of play. In less words, this 3-2 base acts as a “vertical launch point” of attacks, whereby the CBs play a vital role in creating such passing angles and delivering such balls.

Defending Transitions and Counters

Since verticality is the name of the game, mistakes are bound to happen. In the case of intercepted passes, Tuchel’s CBs must be ready defend transitions and counters. With wing-backs acting as wide wingers, Tuchel’s CBs must be primed to alternate defending down the flanks and centrally as a “sweeper”. In other words, Tuchel’s CBs must have the physical capability and awareness to deal with such threats.

Interchanging between a 4-ATB and 3-ATB

Depending on the situation, Tuchel likes his teams to interchange attacking/defending using a 4-ATB and 3-ATB, more-so, using a 3-4-3 and a 4-1-4-1. When using a 3-4-2-1 (as at Chelsea), Tuchel’s wide CBs must be prepared to alternate between attacking/defending as a fullback and centre-back throughout the game, when using a 4-1-4-1 shape.

Do our current CBs meet such profile?

Thiago Silva

Thiago Silva, at age 37, has been undoubtedly one of Chelsea’s best players over the last 2 seasons. From a ball retention and progression POV, Thiago is one of the best; a vital part of our 3-2 base when it comes to both recycling and vertically launching the ball. But what about in defense?

Ever since Tuchel’s arrival, Thiago Silva has been implemented at the center of a back-3. This relieves him of the responsibility of defending/covering ground down the flanks, and solely allows him to focus as a “lone sweeper” in defense. At the back end of his career, Silva thrives at this limited role, questioning whether switching to a back-4 is indeed the smartest move to make. That is, in a back-4, BOTH CBs will be required to share the responsibilities of being a “sweeper” and defending down the flanks, roles which require covering an abundance of ground, especially in a possession-based team keeping a medium-high line.

Trevoh Chalobah

Trevoh Chalobah, one of Cobham’s latest to breakthrough into Chelsea’s first team. In my opinion, I believe Trevoh has the making to become the perfect wide RCB for Thomas Tuchel. From an attacking POV, Chalobah’s movement is a perfect example of what is needed within Tuchel’s 3-2 base. As someone who has played both in midfield and along a back-line, Trevoh’s instinctual movement/positional rotation creates optimum angles for distribution, a part of his game that I am impressed with. While there are still steps required for Trevoh to become a passer like an Alaba or Silva, I believe we have seen the raw materials of “what can be”. That is, his ability to find those line-breaking short/medium passes to our number 10s, along with long diagonal switches. With that, Trevoh has also shown the ability to deliver crosses, and fire long-range shots from inverted midfield positions, making him a great asset to Tuchel’s team in attack.

From a defensive point of view, Chalobah possesses the physical capacity to both defend along the flanks, and centrally as a sweeper. Furthermore, in the cases where Tuchel implements a 4-1-4-1 shape in either defense or attack, Chalobah has the ability to function as both a defensive fullback or center back. All in all, making Trevoh a near perfect fit to be one of Tuchel’s wide CBs. That being said, not all is perfect; I believe Trevoh still has many steps go with regard to his defensive awareness in zonal-marking and 1v1-defending. That being said, this is no cause for concern, as I truly believe he can improve these aspects, possessing the potential to become a key part to our puzzle.

Reece James and Cesar Azpilicueta

Now, I’ve put these two players together as I have noticed many similarities in their game when playing as RCB. In an attacking POV, I believe having a pure full-back (like Reece and Cesar) allows us to implement overlapping CBs, who can join the attack as that “final man” who applies that “final move/ball” in the final 3rd. While good in advanced positions however, I believe both players lack the skillset to contribute in attack from deep-lying areas. That is, I find both players lack the vertical ball playing capacity to find those line-breaking passes to our attackers, from inverted midfield positions, consistently enough. For this reason, I prefer not to have both these players at wide CB, as part of our 3-2 base.

Another reason why I am against both players at wide CB, is because they are not natural center backs. When “push comes to shove” and Tuchel wants to switch to a 4-1-4-1 shape in defense, it would require one of our CB to get into fullback position, and the other to get into center back position. That said, while both Cesar and RJ can fulfill the fullback duty very good, they are not able to become a CB in a back 4 when needed. This is a problem, as it neuters Tuchel’s dynamism/flexibility to change interchange in defense, as needed. All in all, I would say that both players are more suited to being solely fullbacks or at-most, wingbacks.

Conclusion

With that, these are my opinions of just how our current CBs fit the profile Tuchel is looking for. Be sure to tune in every other day, as I will go through, position by position, what is needed to implement Thomas Tuchel’s philosophy.