Chelsea FC could probably take on the Harlem Globetrotters at the moment. The legendary basketball show team from Chicago has been touring the world for 95 years with the same theater program of impressive game and entertainment. In the eternal duels with the Washington Generals, the Globetrotters are considered to be indomitable due to their superior technique and athleticism. Before each event, it is practically certain who will win – and it is similar at the moment with the games of the Londoners.
As if the blues were the Harlem globetrotters of football, Chelsea have been fiddling the competition since the hiring of coach Thomas Tuchel in January. In the meantime, even the hard-to-satisfy German can hardly get over the edge for joy. After his team’s second and third goal in 4-0 (1-0) over Juventus Turin on Tuesday evening, Tuchel found himself on the field. There he extensively cheered the double strike by Reece James (55th minute) and Callum Hudson-Odoi (58th) – flanked by the goals of colleagues Trevoh Chalobah (25th) and Timo Werner (90th + 5) – but above all the respective creation of the gates. The 48-year-old seemed so delighted with the wonderful moves of his team that he not only kept his enthusiasm to himself, but shared it with the 39,513 spectators in the stadium (and probably with the whole world as well).
Has earned praise from coach Thomas Tuchel: goalscorer Reece James.
(Photo: Hannah McKay / Reuters)
Juventus, the grand dame of football, has never before suffered a higher defeat in the Champions League. Most recently, the Italian record champions, often praised for their defensive skills, lost with the same result in February 2004. For Tuchel, in turn, the runaway victory meant the 31st clear-cut game (with only 24 goals conceded) with Chelsea in the 50th competitive game. A mark that no other coach from the top leagues has achieved before him. “A great performance by the team,” said Tuchel, and above all a “very nice” anniversary game.
With twelve points, Chelsea (as well as tied Turin) are now qualified early for the round of 16 and lead the table in the premier class as well as in the Premier League – each with the best defense. the Times wrote that Chelsea’s “complete dominance to the point of destruction” was enough. Most of the media rushed to the three Chelsea junior school-trained goalscorers Chalobah, 22, James and Hudson-Odoi, both 21. To wear blue in the stadium at Stamford Bridge is the “biggest dream” of these players, said Tuchel . He rated their performance as “another excellent day” for his own academy: “I firmly believe that this mix of local talent and top players from abroad is a big part of our success.” The mass paper Sun headlined: “Baby Blues!”
Thomas Tuchel grants Chelsea’s talents more playing time – and is rewarded
The integration of the young professionals is based on Tuchel’s trick of realigning the starting line-up after two defeats in a row in September (including a 1-0 defeat in Turin). After winning the Champions League in May and the successful start of the season, Tuchel came to the conclusion that some players in the squad were increasingly taking their appearances for Chelsea for granted. In order to anticipate a drop in performance, Tuchel granted the talents more playing time. Grateful for every minute of action, the young people’s enthusiasm prevented the threatening daily routine in the team and at the same time intensified the internal competition with presentable appearances.
In doing so, Tuchel managed to maintain a working atmosphere in the team in which the players feel respected and fight with each other instead of against each other. Most amazingly, however, with the frequent staff changes that Chelsea makes, tactical group behavior does not suffer. The movements of each player still have the same effect on the man next to them – regardless of who is on the field. As if all eleven players were being provided with constant instructions from the coaching staff via a button in their ear.
To Chelsea’s complete happiness, the only thing missing right now is Roman Abramowitsch in the stadium again. The Russian oligarch, who bought the club in the summer of 2003, has not followed a game at Stamford Bridge for more than three and a half years. His absence must continue to be interpreted as a silent protest against the British government, which hesitated in spring 2018 to extend his visa. He then angrily withdrew his application and obtained Israeli citizenship.
Although Abramovich, 55, was in London these days, he decided not to visit the stadium on Tuesday. As heard, because of a simultaneous participation in a charity event. After all, he showed up in the empty arena at the weekend when he greeted Israeli President Isaac Herzog as part of the association’s “Say No To Antisemitism” initiative. For too long, however, Abramowitsch will no longer be able to resist the temptation of a home game. Because despite Chelsea’s titular past, the club has hardly offered such a sophisticated and thrilling football as it currently does. Even one that is in no way inferior to the spectacle of the Harlem Globetrotters.