After the disappointing 0-0 defeat by Chelsea a week ago in Wolverhampton, Thomas Tuchel briefly revealed the thought that was on his mind the most. When asked whether the competition in the Premier League would be distorted due to the clubs, which are afflicted to different degrees by Corona cases, the German Chelsea coach first asked about the results of the league leaders Manchester City. When City’s sovereign victory in Newcastle was conveyed to him, Tuchel muttered that it was “predictable”. From his point of view: unfortunately.
With the spectacular 6: 3 over Leicester on Boxing Day, Meister City expanded their winning streak to nine league games, which almost forced Chelsea to win in the follow-up game at Aston Villa in order not to fall significantly behind in the title race. Therefore, Tuchel nominated his supposedly strongest line-up – with the most recently hit midfield driver N’Golo Kanté and the winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, who has just recovered from Corona, in the starting line-up. When the game was on the brink after the first half (1: 1), Tuchel increased the risk regardless of losses by replacing other players who had also just survived a Covid infection: Strategist came for the newly injured Kanté Mateo Kovacic came into play, and center forward Romelu Lukaku came on at break – who ultimately led Chelsea to victory.
In the 3: 1 (1: 1) over the stubborn Villa, which in turn had to do without the coach Steven Gerrard, who tested positive, Lukaku headed the 2: 1 (56th) and took out a penalty with an energetic performance in stoppage time, transformed Jorginho (90th + 3). The three important points put an end to Chelsea’s sluggish results (most recently only two wins in six league games), which means that the gap to City remains six points.
“I’m very worried,” complained Tuchel – his player Lukaku complained about him
In this context of tension (because of the personnel situation) and relief (about the victory) it was to be understood that Tuchel made an all-round blow in his game analysis, which otherwise only his German colleague Jürgen Klopp from Liverpool FC allows himself in this form in England . The Premier League “forced” Chelsea to play all the time, even if the players were sick with Corona, Tuchel was angry. These decisions are made by “people at the green table in offices”, but that is “not the right way”. For example, he had to use Lukaku longer than the medical department “recommended” him, complained Tuchel: “Maybe we’re making a big mistake here. I’m very worried.”
At the same time, Lukaku also expressed his displeasure – but not that Tuchel had him already came on at break, but that he had him first participated so late. A footballer always wants to be on the field, Lukaku said and teased his coach by saying that Tuchel had “his reasons” not to nominate him for the starting XI in the league for two months.
Recently, Romelu Lukaku often only came into play from the bench.
(Photo: Matt Dunham / AP)
Even if the considerations of a player and a coach naturally differ, Lukaku’s objection put his head coach’s scolding in the league into perspective. And it was also to be considered that for Tuchel, despite the Corona-related failures of Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, high-quality substitutes such as Hakim Ziyech, Saúl Ñíguez or Ross Barkley would still have been available, all of whom would probably have belonged to the opponent’s first eleven. However, Tuchel apparently saw the participation of these players as a weakening that he did not want to afford in the fight for his possible first English championship.
Suspension of match days? No way, the TV broadcasters could make claims for recourse
Instead, Tuchel demanded a winter break after the game and another increase in the exchange rate from three to five players. Colleagues like Klopp and Pep Guardiola support him on the latter point. But that the Premier League will play through in winter? Recently, in a better sporting phase for Chelsea, Tuchel still raved that he would love to be “right in the middle” of the “unique” festive games at Christmas.
Tuchel’s loud outrage somehow fits the double standards among players and coaches on the island, who have made it a bad habit to raise their hands in adversity and align them with the wind. The culprit is then usually the Premier League – although this is not an independent power apparatus made up of evil officials, but the union of the same 20 top division clubs. In the previous week, the league with managing director Richard Masters called the clubs several times to crisis meetings to discuss a season break. During Christmas week there were 103 positive corona tests in the league within seven days – a new record. Nevertheless, the clubs voted against vehement individual protests (quote from Klopp: “I beg you to change something. Please do it for the benefit of the players!”) Against suspending entire match days.
Because such a measure would be connected with sensitive recourse claims of the TV rights holders and sponsors. And as soon as the clubs are asked to pay, the extremely wealthy but financially driven club owners seem to have no mercy on their employees – because, conversely, players, coaches and their advisors hardly show mercy with their employers in contractual talks. In the Corona crisis, none of the often angry players and coaches offered to forego part of their own luxury salary in order to straighten out their appointments. And after all, these millions have to be earned somewhere.
Apart from that, tirades in the Premier League are usually based on calculation. Tuchel’s anger on Sunday was also mixed with a sense of wellbeing: he was “impressed” by his players, he said after his scolding, he felt “maximum respect” for them. In doing so, he made his team’s victory seem bigger than it ultimately was.