London: Chelsea played their first match under Thomas Tuchel with a goalless draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday (January 27).
Tuchel made four changes to the side that started Frank Lampard’s final Premier League game. He kept Christian Pulisic, Mason Mount and Timo Werner on bench. Olivier Giroud was given a start up front but he received very little assistance, although Tuchel opted for a formation that allowed Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ben Chilwell to get forward on the wings.
Wolves looked low on confidence in their attack, as they kept all their men down coping with Chelsea’s attack and no one to fire shots in search of a goal. Chelsea showed a little more zeal after the break with Chilwell firing high over the bar when well-placed to hit the target.
Wolves defended deeply, as Chelsea pushed harder for a winner, Kovacic’s effort agonizingly wide while Hudson-Odoi had a deflected shot well saved. But despite some half-chances they were unable to break down a determined Wolves backline, as the match looked pretty much uninspired and ended with a 0-0 score line.
