On Saturday (20/11) at the King Power Stadium, Leicester City faced a yellow wall as they attempted to break into the Chelsea defence.
They, like many other teams before them, failed.
Back line game level The Blues this moment cannot be underestimated, with Thomas Tuchel’s side conceding just 17 Premier League goals since the coach was appointed team architect in January.
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Chelsea have conceded even fewer goals than any other team with an eight-goal difference, taking them to 19 clean sheet, for a record 61 percent of Tuchel’s league games. That, once again, puts them well above the rest of the English top flight.
Moreover, Chelsea have only conceded once away from home in the Premier League this season, and that was from the penalty spot when Mohamed Salah converted from 12 yards at Anfield in August.
It’s not just about conceding goals, they’re also getting a few shots or chances. The Foxes made just four attempts at the weekend, and that’s below the average since Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard, who rarely has a team hit double figures against the frontrunners in the title race at the moment.
It’s not just in their own third of the pitch that Chelsea’s defensive-minded players can also contribute.
Antonio Rudiger opened the scoring against Leicester, while N’Golo Kante – who is not known for his attacking prowess – also scored against his former club.
Indeed, 40 per cent of Chelsea’s goals this season have been scored by defenders, with Reece James being the club’s joint top scorer with four goals.
James made one assistfor Kante’s goal, while wing-backBen Chilwell provided a corner which Rudiger headed in.
You could say, Tuchel’s Chelsea is a team built on defense.
“We understand better – the whole team and myself included – where we can take risks, where we can change our position, adjust our position,” Tuchel said of his attacking defenders.
“We’re not overconfident or doing crazy things, but we have wild momentum and freedom in our offensive moves.”
“For wing-backcould adjust their position to half position to support our attackers. It’s about repetition, understanding each other and at the moment, they are doing well, no matter who plays.”
Tuchel has then achieved what he wanted to do, turning a team that opened up too often under Lampard’s tutelage into one of the most violent in England, and perhaps anywhere in Europe.
However, there’s a risk that things could fall apart in the summer if things don’t change over the next six months or so.
Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, Thiago Silva and Cesar Azpilicueta all have contracts expiring at the end of the season, and time is running out to tie them to a new deal.
GOAL understand that Tuchel would like to keep all four players at Stamford Bridge going forward, but of course there are more than a few things to work on if that is to become a reality.
Perhaps the easiest situation occurs around Thiago Silva, with their belief that the Brazilian wants to stay with the club until at least the 2022 World Cup.
Chelsea also hope captain Azpilicueta commits to a new contract, even if he loses his place startinghis in recent weeks and potential rumors from Barcelona.
Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva are considered leaders in the dressing room, and while they may not play next week, Tuchel wants to make sure they don’t take their experience elsewhere.
However, the real problem lies with Christensen and Rudiger.
These two players have stood out since Tuchel’s arrival to west London, and losing either of them would be a huge blow to the German coach’s project, especially if he lost both.
As first stated GOAL in October, talks over a new deal for Christensen had stalled, with the situation being described as a stalemate after two months of negotiations.
However, it is understandable that talks are now continuing, and Tuchel says he is confident that the player dubbed ‘Danish Maldini’ has finally signed a better contract.
“There are some delays, of course, with Toni and Andreas at the moment,” Tuchel said ahead of the match kick-offagainst Leicester.
“For Andreas, in my view the coach, the player and the club want the same thing. Hopefully, and of course, I expect good news in the next few days, but every case is different.”
Meanwhile, Rudiger’s case is even more precarious.
Arguably the Premier League’s best centre-back in 2021, the German wants to be rewarded with a salary close to what Chelsea’s attacking players get.
Chelsea are reluctant to offer such a contract, and a summer departure on a free transfer seems increasingly likely.
Real Madrid are seen as leaders in a hunt that also includes Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, but Tuchel has asked Rudiger and Christensen to stay.
With only Trevoh Chalobah among the centre-back seniors who will be tied for the long term, there is a realization at Chelsea that any departure will be costly in every way.
Sevilla’s Jules Kunde remains their main target after failing to sign a French defender during the latest transfer window, while helsea have also been offered a deal to sign Matthjis de Ligt from Juventus in 2022.
Both will cost a lot of money, and there is no guarantee that they will fit into the defensive systems of Tuchel and Christensen and Rudiger over the last ten months.
Then, time was running out for Chelsea to defend their almost impenetrable wall. Consequently, if things don’t go their way they can destroy everything that is being built.
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