Chelsea fans stunned as Tuchel humiliates star player
Southampton and Chelsea both came into their lunchtime contest on the back off a run of results lasting six matches – the only difference is the Blues’ run was as a dominant and unbeaten side, while Saints’ was of constant defeats.
When the final whistle went, neither manager erupted in jubilance and both would have been disappointed they did not steal a victory in a 1-1 draw.
Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea side dominated possession, while Ralph Hasenhuttl’s took the lead and hit the crossbar through Jannik Vestergaard.
Both lacked a cutting edge in the final third and neither could add to Takumi Minamino and Mason Mount’s goals in a contest which will be remembered by very few.
However, there is one player who could very much be plagued by unpleasant, lingering memories of this contest.
Callum Hudson-Odoi has been one of Tuchel’s most impressive players, starring at both right wing-back and as one of the three attackers in the Blues’ frontline.
But the 20-year old suffered the greatest humiliation an outfield player could experience in their career as he was substituted out of the game, just 26 minutes after initially being introduced from the bench at half time.
Tuchel further confounded the winger’s misery, blasting him in his post match interviews with BT Sport.
“We brought in Hudson-Odoi but I was not happy with his attitude, energy and counter-pressing,” said the former Borussia Dortmund manager.
“Everyone has to understand that I make decisions to win games and there is no problem that he makes mistakes, has a bad game, or does a miss, but we can’t lack energy even 10% or 5%.
“It’s not possible.”
It will be interesting to see how Hudson-Odoi reacts to this criticism in the coming weeks.