Three ways Thomas Tuchel can set up Chelsea midfield as injury crisis deepens

For all the frustration after Chelsea’s 3-3 draw against Zenit on Wednesday night, there was at least one crumb of comfort for supporters: at least nobody had suffered an injury. However, that was then snatched away.

Thomas Tuchel had revealed before kick-off that Ruben Loftus-Cheek was set to play the final 30 minutes of the game. So the fact he remained an unused substitute against the Russian side was a little curious – although understandable with N’Golo Kante, Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic sidelined.

But when Chelsea’s head coach reflected on the game with the club’s in-house media, he delivered an explanation. It was not good news. “Unfortunately for many weeks we are without N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic, and now without Jorginho,” Tuchel explained. “And Ruben Loftus-Cheek was out after the warm-up [against Zeint].”

Tuchel did not disclose the nature of Loftus-Cheek’s injury. He almost certainly will when he speaks to the press this afternoon ahead of the visit of Leeds United. But with less than 48 hours to prepare for the fixture having arrived back from Russia at 4am on Thursday morning, even the slightest of knocks may prove problematic.

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The rather outlandish reality is Chelsea may head into tomorrow’s game at Stamford Bridge without four central midfielders. It is an injury crisis few could ever have envisaged and one exacerbated by the performances of Saul Niguez, whose previous two Premier League starts have resulted in half-time substitutions.

It’s highly unlikely the Spaniard starts in midfield against Leeds; Tuchel has often highlighted the fact the 27-year-old has struggled to deal with an intense press and that is Leeds’ M.O.

So just as he did in midweek, the Chelsea head coach is going to have to be creative with how he sets up his midfield for the visit for Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites, who themselves are dogged by injury issues.

Here, we highlight three potential options available to Tuchel. But all of them come with their own risks.

Option one

Throughout Tuchel’s Chelsea tenure, Mason Mount has very rarely been dropped back into midfield. Yet it’s worth remembering he played predominantly as an eight at academy level and was used in the role under Frank Lampard last term.

His energy in and out of possession will be vital against Leeds; Chelsea will need a big performance from their current Player of the Year.

Ross Barkley proved rather emphatically against Zenit he is not suited to playing in the pivot but as a box-to-box eight he can be effective, especially when there is protection behind him.

That can be provided by Andreas Christensen. The Dane has been exclusively deployed as a centre-back by Tuchel but showcased during Euro 2020 with Denmark he can step into midfield when required.

He wouldn’t offer the mobility of a Kante or Kovacic, the passing range of Jorginho, or the dribbling skill of Loftus-Cheek, but Christensen could ensure Chelsea aren’t overrun and that space in the middle of the pitch isn’t constantly opened up, as it was against Zenit.

It would also allow Reece James to play at wing-back, something which Chelsea sorely need in order to create overloads down the right flank. However…

Option two

James has plenty of experience playing in midfield and did so in midweek against Zenit. It wasn’t an easy evening for the academy graduate on his 22 birthday, though, with Barkley not offering a great deal of protection alongside him.

However, if used as part of a midfield three, James would have less ground to cover and could try to help Chelsea dictate possession. He, unlike Christensen, does possess a varied passing range and can escape from an opposition press.

The Blues would miss him at right wing-back but Callum Hudson-Odoi could be used. As could Christian Pulisic, who played at wing-back when the two sides met at Elland Road in March.

Option three

This is, we accept, unlikely. Tuchel has very rarely thrown caution to the win during his tenure at Chelsea. Everything has been about control and ensuring Chelsea are set up to dominate matches.

But Leeds very rarely allow opponents to do that – they go man to man across the pitch and challenge players to win their individual battles.

So having players technically proficient in tight spaces on the pitch could prove invaluable. Mount is able to beat an opponent. Hudson-Odoi too. And we’ve already covered James.

The use of Hakim Ziyech as an eight is something Tuchel has experimented with over the last three matches and while Chelsea would lose defensive solidity with him in the side, he could provide the magic needed to get the ball into Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku in dangerous areas.