Chelsea verdict: Blues lacked imagination in attack and heads dropped quickly again apart from Kante and Mount

THERE is no doubt that since the arrival of Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea, we have seen vast tactical improvements and they have looked a different team on occasions.

Tuchel is unbeaten since he arrived six games ago continuing today with a draw at Southampton.

3

N’Golo Kante tried to drag his side to victoryCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

He has switched the formation and injected a new tactical approach that has made this Chelsea team look a lot more confident and emphatic, despite still lacking in the final third which has been a problem for the last few years.

But today’s draw with Southampton was a case of taking one leap forward, but about five big leaps backwards and they showed shades of the poorer assets that we have seen from the last two years under Frank Lampard.

They looked lacklustre and unimaginative in attack, and they were very slow on the ball and slow to react to the second balls.

We had grown used to seeing this a lot during Lampard’s reign, players dropping heads and dropping effort when things are not going their way.

And once again it unfortunately shone through at St Mary’s this afternoon.

It frustrates me when we are 1-0 down or 1-1 and I see players jogging around the pitch.

This is something that we have not really seen in the last six games after the introduction of Tuchel, but once again today it was evident to see it.

Only really Mason Mount and N’Golo Kante can say they gave it 100 per cent effort today, not many others can hold their heads high at all.

3

Thomas Tuchel was raging at times during the draw with SouthamptonCredit: Reuters

The lack of ability to do anything dangerous in the final third is very concerning and you could see the visible frustrations on Tuchel throughout the game.

He cut a very animated and angry figure all afternoon, and that alone says it all.

Chelsea could even have lost the game late on when Southampton put a bit more pressure on attacking.

But this was Chelsea’s game to win all day and they bossed possession, but did nothing at all with it, they even had to rely on a penalty to get the equaliser.

There was a lack of intensity, a lack of creativity, and a lack of anything that resembled a threatening final ball in the attacking third.

Tuchel will be more than concerned as he heads into a tough run of matches, even tougher than he has faced so far in his Chelsea reign.

3

Mason Mount netted Chelsea’s equaliser from the penalty spotCredit: AP:Associated Press

⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel left fuming over ‘reckless’ tackle on Tammy Abraham