Why Timo Werner got annoyed with himself as Thomas Tuchel specifics Chelsea plans to defeat Real Madrid
Chelsea ensured they will travel to the Bernabeu in good spirits to face Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final second leg after a 6-0 victory over Southampton at St Mary's.
Chelsea lost a game in history.
After back-to-back defeats to Brentford and Real Madrid, Thomas Tuchel sat down with his Chelsea players at Cobham on Thursday morning and delivered a few stern and choice words. Seven goals had been conceded in those two games at Stamford Bridge; this could not be tolerated.
A response was required, and Chelsea delivered in spades at St Mary's. Against Southampton, the team scored six goals, four of which came in the first 31 minutes, and kept a clean sheet. With eight games remaining, the Blues have firmly established themselves in third place in the Premier League table.
Tuchel was in a good mood, in stark contrast to his gloomy mood on Wednesday evening, after Chelsea blew the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid. "It was a very good performance offensively but also defensively," the German said at the post-game press conference.
"At halftime, the percentage of won challenges was extraordinary, and it was also critical to this performance because it's not only a passing game, it's not only a possession game against Southampton, it's about winning the duels, accepting the physicality. "By winning challenges, we were able to be dangerous in offensive transition rather than just in ball possession." All aspects of the pitch were well balanced, including mentality and commitment. It was outstanding.
"It wasn't necessary to change everything [after Real Madrid]," he added. But it was the moment for us – or so I felt – to tell the group the truth, to give my honest opinion, and to tell them that as a member of the group, this is how I felt. So the message was clear and obvious, and everyone took it correctly; I included myself in the message, and it was therefore necessary to step up today." It is up to the players to to live up to what we play and they did it in an impressive manner. So it's time to move on because we've rediscovered what makes us strong, and this was yet another proof of that, and we'll keep going."
Chelsea"s victory at St Mary"s put them back on track. It was also the Blues' seventh straight away win in all competitions. In their history, they have only accomplished this feat twice (April 1989 and November 2019). On Tuesday, the chance to break the record for the first time will present itself at the Bernabeu. So there's no pressure there.
Turbo Timo's difficult turnaround
Few Chelsea fans expected Timo Werner to start at St Mary's before kickoff. The German's recent form simply did not merit a spot in the attack ahead of Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech.
However, the opponent the Blues were up against was possibly underappreciated.
Werner was able to score against Southampton despite his struggles at Chelsea. He scored twice when the Saints came to Stamford Bridge last season, and he also scored when Ralph Hasenhuttl's side came to west London earlier this season. Hasenhuttl's high defensive line is every German forward's dream.
That was clear from the start of yesterday's game. Werner hit the post early on and then hit the crossbar with a close-range header – the latter was a chance he should've taken. The 26-year-old was then presented with another chance, but Fraser Foster in Southampton's goal denied him.
Werner threw his arms up in the air in rage after that opportunity. He was irritated and flustered with himself. He needed something to work in his favor. Thankfully, James Ward-Prowse was there to help. The midfielder overhit a header back to Jan Bednarek, giving Werner the entire Southampton half to break into in pursuit of the ball.
Then muscle memory kicked in, and Werner felt like he was back at RB Leipzig. He had enough time to control the ball, coolly round Forster, and finish into an empty net. His joy was accompanied by an outpouring of emotion. Werner's chances came and went; he hit the post again from close range but was fortunate that the ball fell to Havertz to score.
He did add a second goal in the second half after Christian Pulisic was denied, bringing Werner's Premier League tally this season to three. They've all come against Southampton. But, perhaps more incredibly – or disappointingly – 23.8 percent of Werner's goals for Chelsea since his arrival in the summer of 2020 have come against Southampton. If only he could do it every week.
Tuchel explains what is required to defeat Real Madrid.
Everything that was missing against Real Madrid in midweek was on display against Southampton. Of course, the caliber of the opposition played a role, but Tuchel was quick to point out the differences in his players' mindsets at St Mary's. And that is exactly what is going to be needed at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night.
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