Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp are alike in so many ways.
Both have a German passport, with a background in Bundesliga football.
The pair coached Borussia Dortmund at one stage of their careers, before taking over one of the Premier League’s elite clubs.
They are Champions League winners and defeated European finalists.
Plus, their passion for wearing caps is admirable.
Now, the compatriots share another similarity.
Chesea on crutches
Chelsea are currently wading their way through an injury emergency.
Four first-teamers have been checked into the medical room recently, whilst Mateo Kovacic is isolating after testing positive for covid.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek missed last night’s draw with Zenit St Petersburg because of a knock he sustained in the warm-up.
This sense of suffering has been a common theme throughout Chelsea’s campaign.
Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner, Christian Pulisic, Reece James, Mason Mount, Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz, Antonio Rudiger, Edouard Mendy, Marcos Alonso and Andreas Christensen have all missed at least one game due to illness or injury.
N’Golo Kante and Ben Chilwell are the latest long-term absentees, with Jorginho also perched on the treatment table.
Yesterday’s rearranged side highlighted how badly the Blues need their star man present for the biggest occasions.
If this Holby City episode continues any longer, Chelsea will have no choice but to dip their hand into the January transfer market.
A scenario that Liverpool lived and breathed last season.
Last resort Liverpool
Klopp was dealt several major blows to his defence during the 2020/21 term.
Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez were side-lined for virtually the entire year, whilst Joel Matip damaged his ankle at the end of January.
At various stages, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho deputised as makeshift centre-backs.
Yet, the midfielders also incurred health problems of their own.
This forced Klopp to make some last-minute January signings to plug the ever-increasing hole.
In came Ozan Kobak on loan from Schalke and Preston North End’s Ben Davies for £1.6m (Sky Sports).
Alongside the new recruits, the Liverpool boss promoted academy graduates Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams to prominent positions within the squad.
Before January, the young duo had only played 14 senior games combined for the Reds.
After the New Year, their tally shot up to 28.
Reds ride the storm
Liverpool still managed to finish third in the league and reach the Champions League quarter-finals, largely with their inexperienced stars in the limelight.
Chelsea could do a lot worse than emulate Klopp’s methods.
Although the Blues aren’t too fond of taking players on loan – Saul Niguez has proved to be a prime example of this – there are some decent part-time alternatives out there to explore.
Plus, Cobham is brimming with talent, patiently waiting to get their stab at the big time.
Harvey Vale, Xavier Mbuyamba and Jude Soonsup-Bell are just a few to spring to mind.
So, perhaps Tuchel will want to follow in the footsteps of his fellow countryman once again.