Kai Havertz was used as a false nine once again by Chelsea in their Premier League trip to Leeds, but the German fluffed his lines when chances fell his way to leave Blues boss Thomas Tuchel ruing an inability to replicate training ground efforts.
A demanding German tactician saw his unbeaten record preserved at Elland Road, with a 0-0 draw played out, but he could have had more points on the board had a more clinical edge been displayed by his troops.
Havertz, who has been moved forward out of a playmaking post and into a striking one, had sights of goal in West Yorkshire, but he was unable to make the most of any and is still looking for a spark to ignite a testing spell in English football.
What has been said?
Tuchel told reporters on the back of a goalless stalemate when quizzed on Havertz’s position and missed opportunities: “It was pretty much the same role that he had against Everton.
“Kai, I feel him comfortable in high positions. I feel him comfortable to drop into half spaces from the high position to maybe turn, drive and use his speed. But he also arrives very naturally in the box and six-yard box.
Next Match
“He is comfortable in finishing in our attacks. He can clear play as a No.9, half striker or as a winger. These are his positions and today we used him again as a No.9.
“I am happy but unfortunately he couldn’t finish like he does in training and how his talent allows him to finish because we had enough chances and created enough chances for him to be the decisive guy. He is comfortable in this position and I trust him in this position.”
The bigger picture
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Chelsea are 12 games unbeaten under Tuchel in all competitions and remain inside the Premier League’s top four.
An ambitious pack are bunching together in that fight, though, and there remains all to play for heading towards the finishing post.
Tuchel is looking to keep as many of his stars fresh as he can in that fight, which is being complemented by a bid for Champions League glory, and has defended his decision to make changes against Leeds.
He added: “Sometimes you make a lot of changes and sometimes you don’t make any changes at all.
“I don’t think we made many changes after Man United, Liverpool and Atletico. After Liverpool, I felt it was good to make changes to reward the guys and have fresh legs and minds against Everton.
“If you compare the line-up to the Liverpool away game, there’s not so many chances. I think there were two but of course, if you compare it to the last game it was a bit more.
“But we have a strong squad, everyone deserves to play and show themselves. At some point you have to feel the changes, there will come moments where we will not do so many changes.”
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