Chelsea new manager Thomas Tuchel has had a good start to his managerial career at London as the team has responded well to the change in managers. After a good run in the Premier League, Chelsea are back in the FA Cup, which is their real chance to win silverware this season. Tuchel will use this as an opportunity to rest some of his main stars and give a chance to his fringe players.
Some of the Chelsea players have shone under Thomas Tuchel and his unusual 3-5-2 formation. The likes of Tammy Abraham and Hakim Ziyech have seen a lack of game time since the managerial change and will be expecting starts against Barnsley. A lot of changes can be expected in the Chelsea starting XI but it will be intriguing to see who has impressed Tuchel enough till now.
Let us now have a look at how Thomas Tuchel might set his Chelsea side up against Barnsley in the fifth round of the prestigious FA Cup.
THE 3-5-2
The 3-5-2 has been the only system and formation since Thomas Tuchel has joined Chelsea and has used it to optimum effect. The German manager has clearly has some favourites in the Chelsea side already and will look to rest some of them against Barnsley. The likes of Hudson-Odoi, Werner and Pulisic have played a lot of football recently and it will be wise on Tuchel’s behalf to rest his stars.
The defence is likely to be the same as Chelsea do not have any other established centre-back, other than Thiago Silva, who is out injured. The wing-backs are likely to be changed though as James and Chilwell are likely to get their chance of impressing the new Chelsea boss. Billy Gilmour is also someone who is likely to start in the cup game as Jorginho and Kovacic have cemented their places in the midfield in Chelsea’s Premier League side.
Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud are most likely to lead the line for Chelsea as they have also had limited football in the past month.
THE 4-2-3-1
The 4-2-3-1 is another system that Tuchel has used in the previous sides that he has managed like PSG and Borussia Dortmund. Billy Gilmour and Matteo Kovacic are the likely candidates to play in a midfield double-pivot in such a system. Hakim Ziyech is the likeliest option to play on the right flank in such a system, with Hudson-Odoi playing in all the games since Tuchel joined Chelsea.
Ziyech has had a good start to his Chelsea career but will need to prove his mettle under the new manager who expects pace on the flanks. Kepa Arrizabalaga will be a surety in between the sticks for the Blues and will look to keep a shut out to impress the new boss.
THE 4-3-3
The 4-3-3 is only other viable option for Tuchel to use, but it is unlikely for him to use this system because of the lack of option in the midfield. The lack of option in defence will also be alarming for Tuchel but he will have to do with what he has currently till the end of the season. Chelsea should win the game easily but Barnsley have earlier defeated them about 13 years ago in the same stage in the FA Cup.
