Thomas Tuchel pondered whether Southampton might prove a good opponent to kick Chelsea back into life after consecutive defeats to alter the mood at Stamford Bridge this week.
"If you turn it around like this...they will not let us fall asleep. That is clear." Tuchel said on Friday. Ralph Hasenhuttl's side are known for the high level of pressing, which caused issues for Chelsea back in October.
Even with attention already turned to next Tuesday's second leg at the Bernabeu, Chelsea can ill-afford another leg slip with rivals starting to appear in the rear-view mirror. How Tuchel approaches the trip to St. Mary's Stadium is hard to anticipate.
READ MORE: Every word Thomas Tuchel said on Southampton vs Chelsea, Real Madrid, Mendy, Kante, Lukaku, more
Team News
Tuchel confirmed in Friday's press conference that both Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ben Chilwell are still out.
When pressed on Hudson-Odoi's back problem, Tuchel stressed, "it's a matter of weeks. It's a setback". There are also concerns over both Romelu Lukaku and Hakim Ziyech, with late fitness tests needed.
Tuchel's approach
By my count, Tuchel has tried at least four formations in the last two games, probably a sign of how little things have gone to plan.
The 4-3-3 used against Brentford was replaced with the more customary 3-4-2-1. But at 2-1 down to Real Madrid at the interval and the Blues consistently exposed by Real Madrid in the first half, Tuchel switched back to a 4-3-3, apart from Edouard Mendy's howler seemed to limit space.
Tuchel detailed Southampton's varied approaches in the two meetings earlier this season, stressing how taxing both encounters were. "Either they play a 4-4-2 with a heavy, high pressing line of six players which they did in the first match of the season, which they like to play and is their usual shape."
"In the second game against us in the cup, they played a back five, which led to a man mark over the whole pitch, very demanding and intense game. We had a look and watched some things about the two matches. Both matches were of a high level of quality, very intense and fluid from both sides. Very active. It is quite a challenge.
"The schedule is the schedule. We come from another game. It is demanding. Maybe it is good. There is no other way than to accept this physicality. Otherwise, we will be under the wheels."
The Oppo
Despite being comfortably sat in 12th with no fear of relegation, Southampton has not won a game in any competition since the beginning of March against West Ham in the FA Cup. The last Premier League victory came at home to Norwich on the 25th of February. Since that win, they have lost three of their last five.
Chelsea will be glad that Southampton's top scorer Armando Broja is ineligible to play with nine for the season due to Premier League loan rules. Below the Albanian sits three players on eight goals – James Ward-Prowse, Mohamed Elyounoussi and Che Adams.
It is of little surprise the Saints' top creator is setpiece specialist Ward-Prowse with seven assists. His penalty levelled the score back in October before he received a straight red card for a reckless foul on Jorginho.
They are expected to play their usual 4-4-2, though last weekend against Leeds, Hasenhuttl did switch to a 4-3-2-1 with Elyounoussi playing behind a front two of Adams and Broja.
The Lineup
Tuchel's big conundrum for this game is how much he feels like rotating. Does he stick with a majority of the players who featured on Wednesday? Or, with the congested fixture schedule, is he forced to rotate key players?
To be boring, I think a blend of both will happen. Trevoh Chalobah and Marcos Alonso will likely return after Andreas Christensen, and Cesar Azpilicueta struggled in their roles against Real Madrid, dragged out to wide areas.
Mateo Kovacic simply cannot sit on the bench for much longer, and he should be starting this game after the midfield issues across the last two games. Hopefully, adding more urgency and required energy to increase the determination Tuchel felt was lacking against Brentford and Real Madrid.
Whilst Hakim Ziyech (if fit) and Reece James starting a game together could prove a dangerous combo down the right flank. In the centre of attack, I'm sticking with Kai Havertz. His confidence as the main centre-forward is growing, and his overall play is proving decisive. Neither Lukaku nor Timo Werner deserves a start here.
Predicted Chelsea XI: (3-4-2-1) Mendy, Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Rudiger, James, Kante, Kovacic, Alonso, Ziyech, Havertz, Pulisic
What is your starting lineup vs. Southampton? Let us know down below!
