The decision to substitute Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante at half-time against Real Madrid last week spoke volumes about Thomas Tuchel’s frustration. When has any manager taken off Kante in a bid to turn a game in their favour?
It remains a curious move six days later, but Tuchel was desperately trying to find a way to shackle Luka Modric, who was just doing what he does. The Croatia international ran the show at Stamford Bridge, dictating play and cutting Chelsea open time after time with the precision of his passing.
Tuchel’s intervention had an impact — bringing on Mateo Kovacic to add energy to his midfield — and his selection in that area tonight is his biggest call. It was a surprise that Kovacic did not get the nod from the start in the first leg of this Champions League quarter-final. For all of Real Madrid’s quality and know-how, they have ageing players.
Chelsea’s energy levels were considered by Tuchel as a key element to victory against Madrid in last year’s semi-final — and he set up his team to get at the Spanish giants early, only to be caught out frequently on the counter.
An axis of Kante and Kovacic was widely expected, which is why the inclusion of Jorginho came as such a surprise. It was the Italian’s wonderful cross that led to Kai Havertz’s goal, but other than that moment he was ineffective against Madrid’s pass masters, Modric and Toni Kroos.
At his best, Jorginho can control the rhythm of a game, but he is over-run too easily on the counter and he was badly exposed by Modric, in particular, whose timeless qualities were on show again at Stamford Bridge. Stopping him, as much as Karim Benzema, has been paramount in Tuchel’s planning for tonight.
It was Kante and Kovacic in midfield against Southampton on Saturday — and while Ralph Hassenhuttl’s side provided flimsy opposition, Chelsea’s midfield dominance was instructive.
Kovacic has, arguably, been Chelsea’s most consistent midfielder this season, yet the first leg was evidence of Tuchel falling back to his default choice of Kante and Jorginho for the big occasions.
It backfired badly — and his selection in the middle of the park tonight will be decisive. He loves the control Jorginho gives him in matches like this, but he needs legs to take the game to Madrid.
Kovacic’s ability to break the line with his forward runs adds another dimension to Chelsea’s midfield. And with both him and Kante charging the ball there is the potential to disrupt the tempo that Modric and Kroos love to dictate. No matter who Tuchel opts for in the centre, there is simply no guarantee of stemming Modric’s flow, such is his brilliance.
“It is difficult to stop him, he is an amazing player,” said Kovacic. “He was always as good as he is now. I have known him for the past five, six, seven years and he is on the same level, which is amazing. He loves football. I still see him playing three or four more years at this level.”
