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Chelsea host one of Thomas Tuchel’s favourite opponents when Tottenham visit Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
Tuchel has faced Spurs five times as Chelsea manager, winning each meeting without seeing his side concede a goal. The German coach also steered his Borussia Dortmund team to victory in both legs of their Europa League last 16 tie in 2016.
Here’s the Chelsea XI Tuchel may deploy to extend his 100% record against the Lilywhites.
GK: Edouard Mendy – “He’s not bad,” was the succinct opinion Petr Cech first offered of Mendy when Chelsea’s former goalkeeper chief Christophe Lollichon brought the Senegal international to his attention.
CB: Cesar Azpilicueta – Chelsea’s skipper manager to resist the allure of Barcelona’s mysterious millions this summer, extending his decade-long stay in west London.
CB: Thiago Silva – For the first time in 13 years of European football, Silva scored home and away against the same club, in the same season with his pair of headers against Spurs last term.
CB: Kalidou Koulibaly – Tuchel has been positive about his summer recruit but is still some way short of the admiration Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti had for the centre-back. “I always remain of the same opinion,” Spalletti declared this summer. “I always prefer Koulibaly to everyone,”
RWB: Reece James – Tuchel pointedly highlighted that, given the attacking responsibilities placed on the likes of James and Ben Chilwell in Chelsea’s system: “We didn’t have enough from the wing backs to create more freedom for the inner players,” after the side’s narrow win against Everton.
CM: N’Golo Kante – In striking contrast to the extravagant barbers many modern-day footballers include in their entourage, Kante and his former Leicester City teammate, Riyad Mahrez used to pay a combined £10 for a haircut when the pair won the Premier League.
CM: Jorginho – 38% of the touches Jorginho has had in a Premier League opponent’s 18-yard box have been a penalty attempt.
LWB: Ben Chilwell – After getting the nod on the opening weekend, Chilwell could earn his first Stamford Bridge start since rupturing his cruciate ligament on that ground last November.
RW: Mason Mount – No player has made more appearances (80), scored more goals (19) or provided more assists (20) than Mount since Tuchel’s arrival at the club.
ST: Raheem Sterling – Across the previous five league seasons, Sterling has scored 75 non-penalty goals. Romelu Lukaku, the £97.5m striker he has effectively replaced at Stamford Bridge, netted 70 in the same time period.
LW: Kai Havertz – “Automatisms”, “fluidity”, “rhythm”. These were all the elements Tuchel believed Chelsea lacked from their opening day victory over Everton. A particularly rusty Havertz offered little in the way of lubrication last weekend.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Chalobah, Cucurella, Loftus-Cheek, Kovacic, Gallagher, Chukwuemeka, Ziyech, Pulisic
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