Antonio Rudiger makes Liverpool claim about Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Chelsea are off to a flying start to life under Thomas Tuchel and centre-back Antonio Rudiger has been discussing his new head coach's style of play and how it compares to some of Europe's biggest clubs

Antonio Rudiger believes Thomas Tuchel has Chelsea playing like Bayern Munich.

Tuchel and his side made it 12 games unbeaten across all competitions on Monday night as they strengthened their top-four bid with a 2-0 home win over Everton.

The German head coach is off to a flying start at Stamford Bridge, yet to lose since his arrival in late January when he replaced the outgoing Frank Lampard.

Chelsea fans will have been impressed by what they have seen, and indeed what is to come as Tuchel continues to work towards the aim of getting the best out of what is already a very strong squad.

And according to centre-back Rudiger, who has been heavily involved under Tuchel, fans can look forward to a style not dissimilar to that of Bayern Munich under Hansi Flick, or Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp.

“It gives us maybe a little bit less stress behind," said the defender to the Daily Star. "If you keep the opponent in their own half, even if they counter-attack, they still have to go 70-80 metres to our goal.

“Liverpool did this so well in the last few years and this is because of Klopp. In Germany many teams play like this. Bayern Munich as well.

“What’s always been there is this counter-pressing. In those five seconds after you lose the ball, to try to win it back and then spaces open up and you are closer to the goal when you win it too.

“You don’t need to be going 70 metres to goal. You are already there.

“I think you can see the impact it had if you look at the results of the German national team - winning the World Cup in 2014.”