‘Maybe not expect it’: Tuchel didn’t tell Chelsea player he was facing Leeds until just hours before the game

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Thomas Tuchel admits he left it until the last minute to inform Trevoh Chalobah he would be starting for Chelsea against Leeds United.

As quoted by football.london after the Blues beat Leeds 3-0 last night, Tuchel confessed to calling up Chalobah mere hours before kick-off.

Trevoh Chalobah picked to challenge Leeds

The young defender returned to the side yesterday following a three-game absence.

In those trio of Premier League fixtures, Chelsea failed to win once, drawing with Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers and losing to Everton.

Before that, Tuchel’s men defeated West Ham United 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Uncoincidentally, Chalobah also started that match, but like the Leeds contest was added to the XI at short notice.

Andreas Christensen pulled out in the warm-up, allowing his fellow Cobham academy graduate to step up and fill in.

Interestingly, in the three outings prior to the West Ham win, Chelsea were only victorious on one occasion, smashing six past Southampton.

They conceded eight goals in total in losses to Brentford and Arsenal, both at home.

Guess who didn’t play at all across this period?

Trevoh proves his importance

Chalobah’s absence from the team often spells danger, whilst his addition is usually undented.

In the 16 league games he’s started this season, Chelsea have yet to lose, including Wednesday’s triumph over Leeds.

“He can deliver these performances and he played a lot, so there is no reason to be disappointed for him,” said Tuchel about leaving the centre-back out and then bringing him in again.

“He has an unbelievable amount of matches from the start (of the season) and we know this. It’s normal to have a bit of an up and down in terms of positive performance, that is normal.

“We informed the team very late today who plays. He did maybe not expect it. It was the same against West Ham where he came in on short notice. In both matches he delivered. This is the level he can deliver.

“It’s about consistency. He lacked it a little in the last weeks and we did some other choices which is normal. But he needs to stay humble, hard-working and he can be.”

Will Chalobah make the FA Cup final XI?

Although Tuchel is probably not one for superstition, the fact is: Chelsea clearly play better with Chalobah in the team.

But does he get into the Blues’ best 11?

In defence, Thiago Silva and the departing Antonio Rudiger are certain picks.

This leaves one last space in the defence.

That either goes to captain Cesar Azpilicueta, Christensen or the player we’ve been speaking about.

For experience, Azpilicueta wins hands down.

Yet, starting the Spaniard next to Silva leaves a lot to be desired mobility-wise, which is where Chalobah enters the fray.

Tuchel certainly has a healthy seelection headache ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final against Liverpool.

Does he go for the old guard, or trust youthful exuberance to get the job done? We will find out very soon.

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