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Thomas Tuchel's arrival at Chelsea came amidst trepidation with the sacking of fan-favorite Frank Lampard. Brought in to steady the ship, not many expected him to capture Chelsea's second ever Champions League crown, once again justifying Roman Abramovich's almost ruthless pursuit of excellence.
Taking a defensively frail and tentative team, Tuchel preached defensive solidarity and high tempo pressing with a "three at the back" formation and a fluid three in attack.
Chelsea's tactical revamp in 2020-21
Despite their unexpected success in Europe, domestic fixtures have seen Chelsea struggle to break teams with a low block down despite the array of attacking options available on the bench. Star signings Kai Haverz and Timo Werner have lacked a clinical touch in front of goal, failing to put away opposition and bury matches.
The expectation for the 2021-22 season will be nothing short of a title challenge, having now been half a decade since Chelsea's last Premier League crown. Here's how Chelsea will look to line up in 2021-22.
#1 Eduoard Mendy, Goalkeeper
The 29-year-old goalkeeper has been an absolute revelation since his arrival in 2020. The man affectionately known as the "Senagaleese Spiderman" has brought a sense of assurance and calm with his commanding presence in goal. With Kepa Arrizabalaga well out of favor with the team management, expect Mendy to retain his place in goal and deliver another solid and dependable season.
#2 Antonio Rudiger, Left Centre Back
28-year-old Rudiger has been an immense presence in Chelsea's defensive rejuvenation. Having been in and out of Frank Lampard's lineup, the German has now established himself as a defensive general under Tuchel.
A smart reader of the game and blessed with immense pace, the German international has the ability to carry the ball forward and build play from the back. A fan favourite for his temperament and tenacity on the pitch, expect Rudiger to have another solid season.
#3 Thiago Silva, Sweeper
36-year-old Thiago Silva proved to be a timeless talent in his first season with Chelsea. Having spent years at AC Milan and PSG, his endearing performances in a Chelsea shirt have shown him to be a class apart.
Blessed with a calm and impeccable sense of positioning, Chelsea have rewarded Silva's performances with an extension, not just for his role on the pitch but also as a dressing room leader. Andreas Christensen has proved to be a more than capable stand-in, with his performances throughout last season and Euro 2020 reassuring everyone at Chelsea of his quality.
Expect Christensen to gradually inherit this position in the coming season as age and game mileage catches up with Thiago Silva.
#4 Reece James, Right Centre Back
A surprise inclusion in the right centre back position, the Chelsea academy product had firmly established himself in the right wing back role.
Thomas Tuchel, however, has had other plans for him, deploying him on the right side of defence and using his pace to cover quick counter attacks. A strong crosser of the ball and vital from set-pieces, Reece James is expected to keep veteran Cesar Azpilicueta out of the team for the time being.
#5 Adama Traore, Right Wing Back
Reports indicate Chelsea are placed to sign former Barcelona academy player Adama Traore from Wolverhampton. Blessed with immense physical strength and speed, his technical attributes and work rate make Traore perfect for the Premier League.
While he is known as an attacking winger, the wing-back role is not unfamiliar territory. Much like Callum Hudson-Odoi competing for a spot in the team, Traore will work as an attacking option, adding width to the team.
#6 Jorginho, Center Midfield
Jorginho has gone from being an outcast under Lampard to one of Tuchel's untouchables. The Italian conductor is the heartbeat and rhythm of the Chelsea team, setting the tempo in possession and dribbling himself out of tight and tricky situations.
Defensively underrated, his pressing sets the tempo for the team to win the ball high up the pitch and launch direct counterattacks through quick, sharp passing. His technical skills on the ball and leadership quality have kept Mateo Kovacic out of the side. The Croatian would serve as a more than capable option off the bench and in bigger matches should they play with three in midfield.
#7 N'Golo Kante, Center Midfield
Ngolo Kante can stake claim to be one of the best holding midfielders in world football and perhaps Chelsea's biggest individual star. The diminutive and mild-mannered World Cup winner has added a roaming playmaker's ability to his much-lauded work as a ball-winning midfielder.
He often finds himself marauding into the opposition penalty box with late runs. Kante's constant energy and clever reading of the game makes Chelsea a formidable defensive unit.
#8 Ben Chilwell, Left Wing Back
Ben Chilwell, a nailed-down starter under Frank Lampard, found himself operating rotationally, with Tuchel able to appreciate the direct attacking threat Marcos Alonso presented.
In the final few months of the season, however, Chilwell made the spot his own, using his ability on the ball, quick passing and crosses from deep to work his way down the left wing. He has become a key part of Chelsea's defensive stability and his late runs are vital to breaking down teams sitting deep.
#9 Mason Mount, Left Attacking Midfield
Mason Mount has been celebrated by all those at Chelsea as the club's main man for his remarkable ability and big game mentality. The Chelsea youth product has grown beyond the label of Frank Lampard's protégé and made himself indispensable to both club and country.
Slotting in a half-space between midfield and attack on the left, his tactical role as a shuttler focuses on progressing the ball into the final third. The expectation of him in the coming season would be to add to his goalscoring ability.
#10 Kai Havertz, Right Attacking Midfield
The talented and quick-footed German international was signed with high expectations as Chelsea's most expensive player.
Having struggled at first, Havertz's immense natural talent shone through in the latter part of the season as he scored the Champions League-winning goal.
Performing best as a deep-lying striker linking up play, the playmaker should find himself more comfortable operating as an inside forward to bring out his link-up ability and dribbling ability.
#11 Erling Haaland, Striker
Chelsea's pursuit of Erling Haaland has become the talk of the summer transfer window. With Timo Werner's lack of confidence in front of goal, despite his blistering pace stretching defences, Chelsea are desperate for a centre forward.
An explosive combination of strength, speed and technical brilliance, Haaland has all the tools to be a complete forward and one of football's global superstars.
The striker's shirt at Chelsea has been a heavy burden for some great players such as Fernando Torres and Andriy Shevchenko. But a man of Haaland's appetite and mentality should fit into the winning machine Roman Abramovic has transformed Chelsea into since his involvement in 2003.
