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Since Chelsea thumped Juventus 4-0 in their UEFA Champions League group stage clash at Stamford Bridge in November, they have seen a worrying dip in form.
They have won just three league games since the beginning of December, and while they have only lost twice in all competitions since then, the large number of draws have become a concern for a team whose expectations are so much more than this mediocrity.
Thomas Tuchel’s first year anniversary at the club is soon approaching and there is no doubt he has been a huge success at the West London side, especially considering he guided them to their second-ever Champions League title just four months into the job.
However, the German manager is beginning to realise the trials and tribulations of the Premier League, with the atmosphere surrounding the team appearing to take a hit both on and off the pitch.
Tuchel’s rude awakening
The 48-year-old had never managed in English football before his arrival at the Blues last year. The Bundesliga and Ligue 1 were the two leagues that he was based in for many years prior to his move to London, but he guided Chelsea from a concerning ninth place in the Premier League to a fourth-placed finish come the end of the 2020/21 campaign.
His first full season in charge began in August, and as the campaign progressed, the European Champions were sitting pretty at the top of the table ahead of title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool. However, since that rampant victory against the Old Lady, they find themselves in third and 12 points behind league leaders City.
They scraped two victories against Watford and Leeds United before somewhat comfortably beating Aston Villa 3-1 on Boxing Day, but these are their only league wins since December 1st.
Draws against the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Everton and two draws Brighton & Hove Albion have seen their position in the table slip, and while there is some distance between them and fourth, various postponed games could see this gap reduced in the coming weeks when they are finally played.
Past jobs have seen Tuchel’s sides experience winter breaks with the Premier League only adopting a partial interval as early as last season. For Chelsea, in particular, this has come at a cost considering their absences due to COVID-19 and various injuries across the squad with the most notable being Ben Chilwell’s ACL injury suffered against Juventus.
With the Blues competing on all fronts, levels of fatigue have risen alongside injury absences and this has seen them struggle against teams that most people would expect them to beat. Sidelined first-team players have resulted in a lack of consistency in the starting lineups and a downturn in form.
Chelsea’s managerial turnover
No matter how successful a Chelsea manager has been since their arrival, a poor run of games will always cast doubts over their future.
Jose Mourinho is the London club’s most successful manager as he returned to Chelsea in 2014 having previously left in 2007, but was sacked seven months after winning the Premier League title after a horrific start to the season.
Roberto Di Matteo won the Blues’ first-ever Champions League trophy in May 2012, however, he was dismissed six months later.
Club legend Frank Lampard, who played under nine different managers at the club, experienced this himself at the beginning of 2021. A poor run throughout December saw them slip to ninth and he was soon replaced by Tuchel soon after.
Although Lampard’s successor has won the Champions League and Super Cup for Chelsea as well as reaching the Carabao Cup final this season, there are still concerns surrounding Tuchel’s future. Other clubs would probably not consider a change unless things took a dramatic turn, but the club’s history suggests that even the German manager is not safe.
The last four Premier League champions, since Chelsea last won it in 2017, have been Manchester City and Liverpool, with the former winning three of them. Both clubs have something in common, they have had the same manager for at least five years. In contrast, the Blues are now on their fourth since their last league title.
Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have been given the time to build their squads, with both sides storming the league at least once. Chelsea bosses have tended not to have this privilege and their ability to constantly compete at the top has potentially taken a hit as a result of this.
Such a turnover in managers could see some players have an attitude that no matter how poorly they may perform for the club, there is a good chance they will outlast the boss. This is a dangerous precedent to set, particularly when you consider the size and success of a club like Chelsea.
Tuchel is most likely safe for now, especially when his side are third in the Premier League, in the Carabao Cup final and will soon be jetting off for the Club World Cup. However, the German will probably be aware that worsened results across the next few months could result in him leaving the club. A lot of pressure lies on his shoulders to deliver results this season.
Romelu Lukaku’s interview with Sky Sports Italia
The Belgian forward returned to Chelsea from Inter Milan in the summer transfer window for a club-record transfer fee. He scored just 15 minutes into his second debut, tapping home from close range away at Arsenal. A brace against Aston Villa and a header against Zenit Saint Petersburg signalled a triumphant return for the striker, but four months later, the situation is the complete opposite.
The 28-year-old was sidelined due to an ankle injury he suffered against Malmo in the Champions League and only returned to regular first-team action when he came on as a substitute against Villa on Boxing Day, where he scored and assisted in just 45 minutes to earn his side the three points. He started against Brighton just three days later and got onto the scoresheet again.
However, less than 24 hours after the full-time whistle against the Seagulls, comments from an interview with Sky Sports Italia at the beginning of December suggested he was unhappy at the club. It caught many fans by surprise, considering his efforts in the days prior.
He has not been the same since, and even though he issued an apology to the fans for his words, Lukaku has failed to perform on the pitch in an attempt to win back support.
With the 28-year-old playing as a striker and being the club’s most expensive signing, he is somewhat expected to be the focal point of the team. Despite this, he has only scored eight goals in all competitions this season, a return a lot less than what fans expected from him.
Lukaku was dropped against Liverpool earlier in the month due to his comments, with the club believed to be furious with him and his teammates probably failing to understand why he agreed to such an interview. Although he scored against Chesterfield in the FA Cup Third Round, he has been one of the reasons why Chelsea’s form has dipped in recent weeks.
Both games against City and Brighton in the last few days saw him get one shot on target and fail to return to the scoresheet. Tuchel has been praised for the way in which he dealt with the situation, ensuring that player power will not and cannot become an occurrence at Chelsea. However, there is only so much he can do to help the striker’s fortunes, especially when you remember how experienced he is and how prolific he has been in the past.
After their clash against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, the Blues will have nearly two weeks off until they return to action against Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup Fourth Round.
Chelsea’s matches after that are, on paper, an ‘easier’ set of fixtures compared to recent weeks as they look to improve their form and ensure they finish the season strongly. It will provide the European Champions the opportunity to get back to winning ways and, even though the Premier League title is now out of reach, meet the high expectations that they are set every campaign.
Tuchel has the backing of the majority of the fanbase but will need to ensure that his players turn up on the pitch to help him and the club achieve their aims, otherwise, he could be in trouble.
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