Thomas Tuchel targets his first Chelsea trophy as attentions turn to the FA Cup

Although Thomas Tuchel has been in charge of Chelsea for less than two months, he has totally transformed the Blues into one of the most dangerous teams in Europe.

The German took over in southwest London at the end of January, replacing club legend Frank Lampard following a poor run of form that saw them drop down to 8th in the Premier League table. Flash forward to the present day, and the Blues have climbed up to fourth in the league and have secured quarter-final places in both the FA Cup and the Champions League.

Perhaps their most recent result, a 2-0 win against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League round of 16, would be the ‘pièce de résistance’ of Tuchel’s Chelsea reign so far. The Blues expertly navigated their way through the tie, securing a 1-0 win away at the La Liga leaders, before sealing the tie with a convincing 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge. A quarter-final tie against FC Porto gives them legitimate hopes of challenging in Europe’s top competition this season.

But attentions now turn to the FA Cup, a trophy that Chelsea have won eight times since their inception in 1905. The team that stand in their way of a trip to Wembley are Sheffield United, a side in turmoil following the departure of longtime manager Chris Wilder last week.

The Blades will almost certainly be relegated from the Premier League at the end of the season, but many fans were desperate for Wilder to remain in charge and spearhead an immediate return to the top flight. The decision to part ways with the 53-year-old was largely met with shock and frustration, especially having seen Norwich City’s success in the Championship following the decision to stick with Daniel Farke.

Paul Heckingbottom was chosen to step in as interim manager, having taken charge of the club’s under 23’s side last year. The former Barnsley and Leeds boss took charge of his first game just 24 hours after Wilder’s departure was announced – a humiliating 5-0 defeat away at Leicester City.

Of course, a comfortable win for the hosts seems logical. But with Sheffield United’s league campaign all but over, they can fully focus on achieving success in the FA Cup.

Tuchel has drastically improved Chelsea in an incredibly short space of time, and they’re all but perfect defensively, with 11 clean sheets since the German took charge. However, their attacking efforts often leave something to be desired, having recently slumped to 0-0 draws against Manchester United and Leeds United.

Furthermore, the Blades have occasionally proven to be a bogey team for the Blues. Granted, Chelsea have won the last two matches between the two sides, including a 2-1 victory in their most recent meeting at Bramall Lane last month. However, Wilder’s side earned a hard-fought point from their 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge last season, before storming to a 3-0 home win later in the campaign.

This is obviously a completely different Sheffield United side to that of last season. Their confidence has dropped and Wilder has left after five years in charge of the club. They’re clearly going through a huge transition, and that may take an incredibly long time to overcome.

Chelsea are in the process of becoming a top European side. They remain undefeated since Lampard left the club, and that run looks unlikely to end any time soon. Owner Roman Abramovich demands instant and continuous success from his club, and the FA Cup could provide the best platform to win the first trophy of the Tuchel era.

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