Thomas Tuchel will finally have what he wants in the Premier League next season. The league's shareholders meeting on Thursday confirmed that five substitutes would be allowed from the start of next season and that they could be made on three occasions over the course of 90 minutes, with an addition chance at half-time. Nine substitutes will be allowed to be named on the team sheet.
Thomas Tuchel, alongside the likes of Jurgen Klopp, has been one of the chief proponents of having the option to make use of more of his squad in the Premier League, with domestic cups and the Champions League already allowing five substitutes in a match. The German coach was heavily critical of the Premier League's position this term, particularly as his side struggled with injuries and cases of Covid-19 over the festive period.
The Blues have seen 21 matches where they have had the opportunity to make more than three substitutes and he has made at least four on 16 occasions. Safe to say, Tuchel will make use of them in the Premier League in 2022/23.
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"The spectators want the top players on the pitch, they want them healthy and they want them fit and in shape, hungry," said Tuchel earlier next season. That will be Chelsea's next challenge.
In tandem with that news came the announcement of this summer's transfer window. The Blues will have from June 10th until September 1st to make their moves, though as things stand no transfers can be made as a result of the UK government placing sanctions on Roman Abramovich.
When any takeover eventually goes through, and that could be as soon as May, the special operating license will be lifted leaving the Blues to return to business. However, how any new owner plans to operate remains an unknown.
While Tuchel has made his hopes to have the option of five substitutes clear, being able to take advantage of the new rule relies upon having more 'top' players that can maintain their shape and hunger. In the year of a World Cup taking place in the middle of the season that will be more important than ever. The Blues have had to trust their squad repeatedly this term and largely been successful, but they sit in third place behind Manchester City and Liverpool. The Blues have been stretched at times under an intensive schedule and will hope to be better equipped for a similar fixture list next season.
However, that squad will be under pressure with the new owners needing to make a lot of decisions fairly quickly in the transfer market, even if that is simply entrusting the current hierarchy. The Blues still see Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen's contracts set to expire, while Cesar Azpilicueta's future remains uncertain even if the option to extend his deal has been actioned.
There has been talk over the futures of Timo Werner and Jorginho too, and with the possible turnover, the Blues squad starts to look lighter than in recent seasons. That makes two outcomes fairly necessary to ensure Chelsea can continue to correct.
They must foray into the transfer market to replace players with quality and to guarantee there is no drop-off in substitution or in replenishing the first. Secondly, the approach taken with the Blues' loan stars will be crucial. With great substitutes comes great opportunities for players that otherwise might consider transfers away from the club or another loan.
Conor Gallagher, Billy Gilmour, Armando Broja, Ethan Ampadu, Levi Colwill and maybe more will be faced with difficult decisions as will Tuchel when deciding the make-up of his next squad. Academy products that have been afforded a chance this season like Harvey Vale, who has benefitted from the volume of substitutes in the likes of the FA Cup, could receive more regular minutes over the course of 2022/23.
It will be a difficult balance to strike, but the Blues cannot rest on their laurels and have to be proactive to truly take advantage of what Tuchel has been clamouring for this season.
