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Thomas Tuchel\u2019s Chelsea career fell prey to a frustrating launch night as the Blues laboured to a galling goalless Premier League draw with Wolves.<\/p>\nThomas Tuchel\u2019s Chelsea career fell prey to a frustrating launch night as the Blues laboured to a galling goalless Premier League draw with Wolves.<\/p>\n
Former Paris St Germain boss Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard on Tuesday, with the Blues board hailing the 47-year-old as one of Europe\u2019s top coaches.<\/p>\n
Chelsea struggled for fluency in a tepid first half as many of the issues that beset ex-boss Lampard surfaced again at Stamford Bridge though.<\/p>\n
And despite dominating possession and territory throughout, Chelsea were forced to settle for a draw \u2013 which extends their paltry league return to just two wins in nine matches.<\/p>\n
Tuchel\u2019s first line-up turned back Chelsea\u2019s clock in one sense \u2013 but kept it stock-still in another.<\/p>\n
The German boss pinched Antonio Conte\u2019s 3-4-2-1 Chelsea formation, even asking one of his wingers to deputize as a wing-back.<\/p>\n
For Victor Moses in Conte\u2019s Chelsea then, see Callum Hudson-Odoi here as Tuchel took charge.<\/p>\n
If that was the retro element to Tuchel\u2019s first tactical deployment, where things stood still revolved around the midfield.<\/p>\n
The deep midfielders Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic formed a central box when linking with the two numbers 10s in Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech.<\/p>\n
But just as with all the struggles under Lampard, Chelsea could not move the ball with enough incision or impetus to open up the visitors.<\/p>\n
Chelsea\u2019s one fluent move of a testing first half came almost immediately, with Hudson-Odoi underlapping and providing a fine cross for Giroud.<\/p>\n
The France hitman could not make contact however, and required no telling he should have tapped home.<\/p>\n
The again out-of-sorts Havertz failed to move when he should have raced beyond Giroud, allowing another opportunity to evaporate.<\/p>\n
Giroud stepped over Ziyech\u2019s cute ball, expecting Havertz to sneak in behind.<\/p>\n
But when the Frenchman turned around, Havertz was still in the wider channel.<\/p>\n
Ruben Neves fired over from a free-kick after Antonio Rudiger had felled Podence following his own failed clearing header.<\/p>\n
Rudiger hit the target with a header from Ziyech\u2019s free-kick, but Rui Patricio mopped up without issue.<\/p>\n
Chelsea at least upped the ante after the break, with Giroud unable to conjure anything from two half-chances.<\/p>\n
Ben Chilwell blazed over from a good position after a neat cutback from Havertz, and then Giroud scuffed a shot after good work from Hudson-Odoi and Ziyech.<\/p>\n
Chelsea so nearly paid for squandering so much territory and possession when Pedro Neto scrambled into the Blues\u2019 box.<\/p>\n
But the crossbar came to Edouard Mendy\u2019s rescue, as Neto\u2019s deftly lofted effort bounced off the top of woodwork and over.<\/p>\n
Tuchel withdrew Chilwell and Giroud and sent in Pulisic and Abraham as Chelsea went in search of a winner.<\/p>\n
Pulisic\u2019s deployment at right wing-back saw Hudson-Odoi shift flanks, in another indication that this will be Tuchel\u2019s favored formation.<\/p>\n
Kovacic whipped a shot close from 20 yards after nice work from Pulisic, before Tuchel brought on Mason Mount for Ziyech.<\/p>\n
Patricio tipped Hudson-Odoi\u2019s deflected shot round the post as Chelsea still could not find the breakthrough.<\/p>\n
Mount added energy and incision at the death, but still there was to be no winner.<\/p>\n
Havertz saw a threatening header deflected wide from a corner, and that was that.<\/p>\n