The France international’s ability to start counter-attacking moves has been wasted
Thomas Tuchel has used Chelsea 1-1 draw away at Southampton to reiterate what he wants from his players, having failed to win for the first time in the last six games.
Tammy Abraham was substituted at half-time after failing to make an impact at St Mary’s. Callum Hudson-Odoi, who came on for him, was ruthlessly substituted in the second half after failing to impress his manager.
Chelsea only scored through a defensive mistake when Mason Mount converted a penalty he won himself. The attack in particular trouble tuchel, who thinks N’Golo Kante’s attacking influence is being wasted by team-mates.
What has Tuchel said about Kante?
“I have known N’Golo Kante for years and now I am a lucky coach who has him as a player,” Tuchel told reporters at St Mary’s Stadium. “He steals every ball that is around 10 metres near him.
“Even then, we need to use these ball wins from N’Golo and use them better to attack the space behind the last line better. We need to use our speed better to create more chances. There are a lot of possibilities in the last matches.
“We need to understand and it is a process that we may need the last few links to gain the confidence to create and score more. Because it is also not enough to score from just half chances.”
Tuchel went on to clarify what went wrong on Saturday afternoon: “I had a feeling in the first half that we can end the game before it starts for Southampton but I didn’t think we were aggressive or determined enough to win the decisive one-on-ones to make a decision, take it quickly and do it 100%.
“We were always doubtful. Do I pass? Do I shoot? Do I cross? Where do I cross? Where do we attack? We have to improve there and I was frustrated because I saw a good game with high pressing, a lot of acceleration, opening a lot of good space and I am not frustrated with tactics.
“I was only frustrated that we couldn’t reward all this good effort we made because if we take the lead here, then we have another three points. We have to take the possibilities when they are there. We cannot let go and let go of the next chance. We have to be more clinical.”
What has Tuchel said about Kante?
“I have known N’Golo Kante for years and now I am a lucky coach who has him as a player,” Tuchel told reporters at St Mary’s Stadium. “He steals every ball that is around 10 metres near him.
“Even then, we need to use these ball wins from N’Golo and use them better to attack the space behind the last line better. We need to use our speed better to create more chances. There are a lot of possibilities in the last matches.
“We need to understand and it is a process that we may need the last few links to gain the confidence to create and score more. Because it is also not enough to score from just half chances.”
Tuchel went on to clarify what went wrong on Saturday afternoon: “I had a feeling in the first half that we can end the game before it starts for Southampton but I didn’t think we were aggressive or determined enough to win the decisive one-on-ones to make a decision, take it quickly and do it 100%.
“We were always doubtful. Do I pass? Do I shoot? Do I cross? Where do I cross? Where do we attack? We have to improve there and I was frustrated because I saw a good game with high pressing, a lot of acceleration, opening a lot of good space and I am not frustrated with tactics.
“I was only frustrated that we couldn’t reward all this good effort we made because if we take the lead here, then we have another three points. We have to take the possibilities when they are there. We cannot let go and let go of the next chance. We have to be more clinical.”
