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Chelsea took on the struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers with Chelsea's new coach now in the dugout. It is Tuchel's first game in charge after only training with the team once.
William Jose, the Brazilian was also on the bench to ease up the scoring woes for Wolverhampton Wanderers after coming on loan from Real Sociedad.
With this new Chelsea look, it was obvious the coach went for experience rather than the usual youth. He only had two youngsters within his ranks for the starting 11 and they are Hudson Odoi and Kai Havertz.
The movements for Chelsea in this game was good and they enjoyed the bulk of the possession with 82% of that coming in the first 12 minutes. Tuchel must have been happy with what he was seeing as it bodes well for the future. They caged their opponents but there was nothing meaningful to come out of their possessive game. In fact, they racked up 888 passes in this game alone, just one short of the numbers Manchester City had when they demolished West Bromwich Albion for 5 goals to nothing.
The first real and meaningful chance came in the 20th minute when Ziyech fired straight at the goalkeeper after Odoi's earlier cross was cleared with a header. A minute after, Rudiger caught the face of Podence and freekick was given on the edge of the box. You would expect Wolves to take advantage of this opportunity since they were not seeing much of the ball but Reuben Neves fired far, wide, above and not handsome.
In the 27th minute, Chelsea had a corner that was taken by Ziyech but nothing came out of it because there was no one to connect with the ball except for Semedo and he dealt with it by clearance.
Hudson Odoi had been brilliant from the side and I am sure he has been told to keep putting in the crosses from the side which explains why Giroud led the line for the game but all his efforts didn't threaten that much. He had another cross into the box which found Chilwell at the other end of the post but he couldn't connect well with it and it went for a goal kick.
In the 40th minute, Wolves threatened when Dendoncker headed over. It was a great chance but he wasted it. The half time came to a close and the went into the break 0-0. There was nothing special and spectacular in the first half.
The second half started also in like fashion and in the 58th minute, Ziyech drew a foul and nothing came out of the free-kick. Both sides were trying to get something out of the game but they looked devoid of ideas on how to go about it. Some missed chances, some half baked chances, tackles flying here and there but there was no moment of individual brilliance nor was there any moment of team play.
Giroud tested Rui Patricio from an impossible angle in the 59th minute. Such attempt rarely test Rui Patricio but it was an attempt worth taking.
In the 60th minute, Chelsea played good football and had a great chance when Ziyech got the ball wide, gave it to Havertz who in turn found Chilwell but he skyrocketed his effort even though he was rightly placed in the box. It shows he really need a shooting practice. He sure can use one.
Wolves sat back and considering how their form has been, they would be more than happy with a point, especially against Chelsea. They sat back, absorb the pressure and relied heavily on counter-attacks. Tuchel should be used to this approach by other teams since he faced the same fate with his PSG side back then and his array of talents.
Ziyech found Giroud in the 64th minute but it was a tight one. He had no chance to do anything with it nor muster enough power to get the ball in. Chelsea started knocking more on Wolves defence but it still remained locked.
A minute after, Ziyech found Chilwell who later found Giroud but it was ruled for offside even though he was unable to score anyway. Ziyech has been at the heart of things for Chelsea in this match.
In the 66th minute, Neto tried to squeeze himself into the box from the side which he successfully did but there was no power on his attempt to send the ball into the box. It was easily gathered by Mendy.
Neto had a glorious chance 5 minutes after and he blew it. It was shocking as he could have put Wolves ahead. He lifted the ball but it was a bit too much and it landed on the net. What a chance missed. Wolves see the threat they can offer and decided to bring in their loan signing by taking Podence off in the 72nd minute.
Neto was culpable again when he killed a brilliant attacking move with an audacious attempt that went far over. Chelsea introduced their own player too when Pulisic came in for Chilwell and Tammy Abraham came in for Olivier Giroud.
Ziyech had a shot deflected for a corner in the 80th minute while Kovacic came close just 2 minutes after with a brilliant curling effort that went just a bit wide.
Mason Mount came in for Ziyech in the 82nd minute which I feel was a little bit too late to influence anything meaningful. The little time Mason Mount used, you can see the energy, desire and willingness from him.
Hudson Odoi tried to take matters into his own hands when he drove in and had a shot that was saved by the goalkeeper in the 85th minute. 3 minutes after, Mount skipped between two defenders and his effort across the goal was cleared. His little cameo showed his desire to stake his claim for the starting line up.
Wolves had a brilliant attack snuffed out by Odoi in the 89th minute while Kai Havertz could have won it at the death when his header was sent wide when substitute, William Jose got a touch on it. The game ended 0-0.
Another opportunity for both teams to regroup and do better in the next game.
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