Winning by the odd goal is just fine for now
Football is a results-based business, but Thomas Tuchel will be demanding much more from next season
Getting the points on the board, that is essentially all that matters at this stage of the season with just 5 games remaining and Chelsea hanging on in the top 4 spot by just 3 points.
It will make for an uncomfortable end to the season as every game has now pretty much become a must-win now if we don’t want to rely on other results.
We also have the FA Cup final and the Champions League semi finals and hopefully a final, maybe…
So winning matches is literally all that matters right now, but I do get some fans frustrations. There seems to be an inconsistency that has been concerning over the last handful of matches. We can put on the performance of the season beating Manchester City in the FA Cup semi final, then just some days later put in one of the worst of the season drawing 0-0 to Brighton.
It can be frustrating and some of the games I have watched have been lethargic and lacklustre. However, Thomas Tuchel arrived at the club just three months ago, it is easy to forget that but important to remember it.
He is the first one to come out though and says he does not need a project, he does not need time, he wants to win things right away, and I applaud that.
However, even with Tuchel’s positive belief in his own tactics and his own coaching ability, he will know that it will be next season when we will really start to see ‘Tuchel-Ball’ if that’s how you like to describe these things.
At this point in the season, with all the ups, downs, turmoil of a manager sacking midway through the season, and now this Super League fiasco as well, there is no point judging Tuchel and this set of players under him right now.
Emotions will always spill over and that is part of supporting a club in football, I have certainly expressed some emotional opinions off the back of some poor performances. But the bottom line for me right now is that we are winning matches, whether it is by the odd goal, or getting some major luck, I don’t care. We just get points right now whether it is pretty or not.
Tuchel has made us difficult to beat, so if he is building from the back, the rest will come. The attack is full of new players building new relationships settling into a new league in a new country, they are also all very young - I would certainly expect to see them firing a lot more next season.
I’ll sum it up by saying that whilst it is not always emphatic or pretty, football is about getting results, and if we manage to win a trophy this season whilst also gaining top four, that will be a great success for now - Then we build on that and challenge for the title next season with hopefully a few vital additions to improve the squad with some real quality and experience.
Written By Simon Phillips (@siphillipssport)