The first preseason game between his squad and Club America ended in a 2-1 victory under Thomas Tuchel's direction. The Blues were the clear favorites to win the friendly, but a Reece James own goal significantly complicated things for them. There was a lot to learn in just 90 minutes, and it was a rusty performance based on big expectations.
The midfield options for the Blues were plentiful. Conor Gallagher and Ross Barkley dominated the first half, while Jorginho and Mount dominated the second. The various choices were dominant in midfield, but Jorginho stood out with an uncharacteristically offensive display.
With a variety of attackers and Kalidou Koulibaly joining the defense, all eyes were on Tuchel's choice of wing-back. In the second half, Kenedy was required to play as the right wingback while Marcos Alonso occupied the left. As the game went on, the issue of whether the Blues genuinely required cover for their wing-backs or not arose.
This summer, Alonso is expected to transfer to Barcelona. According to reports, the Spaniard has made the decision to quit Chelsea after five fruitful years there. Ben Chilwell was out injured for the duration of last season, forcing Alonso to step up despite his rocky relationship with the fans. Although Chilwell and Alonso were of different calibers, each player contributed something unique to the club. The 28-year-old made up for his lack of speed with a keen eye for goal. The Blues will need to consider how to retain him or how to replace the vacuum left by his impending departure.
Reece James played 45 minutes of challenging football. He had moments of excellence, but his pass back to Marcus Bettinelli cost him dearly. The 24-year-old passed the ball back knowing that the goalkeeper would be guarding the goal, but Bettinelli took too long to recover, and the ball went into his own net. Tuchel's wing-back setup has benefited greatly from James. He moves quickly, bounces back quickly, and, in the boss' words, "shoots like a horse." A manager could not ask for more in a full-back. In the first half, Kenedy was asked to fill James' role, and there have been some conflicting reactions.
Despite the Brazilian's best efforts, several fan replies indicate that he was far slower than Reece James. Since Kenedy, 26, has always played on the wing, he may need some time to adjust to his new position as a wing-back. Thomas Tuchel will need to determine whether Kenedy has what it takes to step up and push James for the right wing-back position in the team with the season only three weeks away.
Last season, injuries to Chilwell and James may have prevented the Blues from challenging for the crown. Repeating this might be costly, and with Cesar Azpilicueta and Alonso both being linked to Barcelona, things could become worse for Chelsea the next season. Defender Jonathan Clauss of Lens has been mentioned in relation to the Blues. According to reports, the French full-back could be had for £8 million. Will Thomas Tuchel have enough time to recruit replacements or will he have to stay with what he already has given that Presnel Kimpembe and Jules Kounde are still on Chelsea's radar?
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