Tuchel's Debut At Chelsea Was Less Sweet, Only Able To Draw 0-0 Against Wolves
JAKARTA - Thomas Tuchel, who just became Chelsea's manager for a day, could only draw 0-0 on his debut to deal with the London club at home to Wolverhampton in Week 20 of the Premier League at Stamford Bridge Stadium, Wednesday local time.
Chelsea are now the 8th in the standings with a collection of 30 points, while Wolverhampton climbed to 13th with 23 points, Antara noted on the official Premier League website.
Tuchel took a bold step in concocting his first "starting eleven" at Chelsea by dismissing Mason Mount, who this season has been a regular under Frank Lampard.
Tuchel also fielded Olivier Giroud who didn't get many chances during the Lampard era.
The change was promising when Chelsea created chances just five minutes after kickoff. Unfortunately, Giroud was unable to reach the bait from Callum Hudson-Odoi in the near post area.
Chelsea's first dangerous chance came in the 20th minute when Wolverhampton captain Conor Coady's sweep fell in front of Hakim Ziyech, but the Morocco international player's curly shot was too easily secured by goalkeeper Rui Patricio.
In the 39th minute another chance is created by Chelsea with a Ziyech free-kick which is blocked by Antonio Ruediger's head, but again Patrico makes a brilliant save.
A minute later, Wolverhampton threatens back when Pedro Neto sends in a cross but Leander Dendoncker's header bounces over the bar.
At halftime, statistics on the official Premier League website show that the new Chelsea under Tuchel have shown impressive changes by making 433 passes in the first 45 minutes, it's the most since 2003/2004.
The change almost turned into a goal in the 61st minute when Kai Havertz sent a tug of war to Ben Chilwell. But unfortunately the Chelsea left-back's finishing shot was too high over the target.
Ten minutes later Tuchel should be glad when Wolverhampton almost scored on the counter-attack and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy had to face Neto where fortunately the crossbar saved Chelsea.
Chelsea created three other chances in the last 10 minutes of the game, but none of these became a score so that Tuchel's debut with the Blues ended on one point only.
Chelsea host Burnley in their next game Sunday this week, one day after Wolverhampton visit Crystal Palace.