Chelsea missed a chance to secure their place in the top four of the Premier League as Leeds held them to a disappointing 0–0 score on Saturday. Thomas Tuchel had plenty of chances in his favor, but could not deliver the knockout blow in a tough clash at Eland Road. The Blues finished fourth and fifth-placed West Ham just three points behind them as the race to qualify for the Champions League looked to be down the wire. Tuchel is now 12 matches unbeaten in all competitions since he replaced sacked Frank Lampard in January.
With clean sheets in their last five matches, Chelsea have scored just two goals in that period.
However, his goal scoring issues came and went in the Yorkshire rain under Tuchel as an opportunity.
He has scored more than two goals in any match in the Tuchel era so far.
His renaissance under former Paris Saint-Germain boss will be another tough test – in the Champions League on Wednesday, at Stamford Bridge against Atletico Madrid in the last 16th leg – with Chelsea taking a 1-0 lead.
Tuchel made six changes from Monday’s win against Everton as Christian Pulisic replaced Timo Werner, with reports that the United States winger was unhappy with his lack of work since the German took over.
On Friday, Tuchel urged Pulisic, when he came, to say about the player who worked with him in Borussia Dortmund: “He is in my plans. You have to be ready when the moment comes.”
Leeds and Chelsea have been fierce rivals since their brutal FA Cup Final clash in 1970, but the absence of fans due to a coronavirus lockdown slowed the Blues’ first league trip to Elland Road since 2003.
The poor quality of the pitch at Elland Road is almost reminiscent of the mud-field battles that defined Chelsea’s encounters with Leeds in the 1970s.
– stroke of luck –
Pulisic was not seen from the severed surface as he slid down from the right side and hit a low cross, which Kai Havart pitched directly at Leeds keeper Ilan Messlier.
Leeds launched a penetrating counter shortly after Havert’s lapse and Patrick Bamford’s cross was replaced by Tyler Roberts, only for the offside flag to come to Chelsea’s defense.
If that was a stroke of luck for Chelsea, Leeds would have benefitted from moments of their own good fortune when Diego Llorente took the clearance against teammate Luke Ayling before falling to the clear ball Shocked.
With ever Leeds and his wide-open style, chances became thick and fast and Roberts keeper Edouard Mendy tipped his curler over the bar and was inches away from opening the scoring.
Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell fired just wide from the edge of the area before pushing Mason Mount’s 25-yard drive out of Mesuilly.
Everton gave an impressive performance against Everton after the first season with Chelsea.
But Germany were back in their worst position and Haskim fired a shot at Messi from near Zich.
In place given by statues Leeds Defense, Havertz should have done better with a close-range blast that ended early in Messier’s second half.
Mendy saved well when his former Rens teammate Ruffinha looked at goal from Rodrigo’s knockout.
Promoted
Chilwell had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock, but only scored with Mesali as he advanced into the area.
Antonio Rudiger’s hopeful effort from 30 yards sent Mesworld to save, while Callum Hudson-Odoi rejected Chelsea’s challenge by the keeper.
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