Chelsea were held to a goalless draw against Wolves in the Premier League on Wednesday evening at Stamford Bridge in Thomas Tuchel's first game in charge.
Match Reports
The hosts dominated the ball in west London but had nothing to show for it in front of goal as they were held by a resolute Wolves side.
Chelsea started brightly to life under Thomas Tuchel. Fluid football and high pressure off the ball. And inside five minutes they could've been ahead. Callum Hudson-Odoi whipped the ball across the box but Olivier Giroud couldn't quite get the contact to tap home from close range at the near post.
Hakim Ziyech had a chance in the 20th minute as he fired one from the edge of the box, but it was an easy save for Rui Patricio.
Antonio Rudiger, who was given the nod to start in defence, made a needless foul on the edge of the area three minutes later on Daniel Podence, but Ruben Neves could only hit the free-kick over Edouard Mendy's crossbar.
Hudson-Odoi was one of the Blues' brighter sparks. He produced another cross, this time deep, which fell to Ben Chilwell at the back post in the 32nd minute, but he could only volley his effort wide.
Rudiger had a chance six minutes before the break as Ziyech delivered a free-kick to the back post, but Patricio got down well to save the German's header.
Wolves struggled to get out of their half, but in the 40th minute they did as they broke down the left hand side, however Leander Dendoncker could only steer his header over the bar.
Inside the first minute of the second-half, Hudson-Odoi and Ziyech combined for the former to cross but neither Giroud or Havertz could turn it home. Havertz then tangled legs with Nelson Semedo as he went the aerial ball, but no penalty was awarded.
In the 61st minute and Chilwell should've put Chelsea ahead. Havertz did well to cut it back to the defender, but he blazed his effort over from close range.
A couple of minutes later and Chelsea started to up the tempo. Quick passing led to Hudson-Odoi drilling a low ball into Giroud, but his effort was tame and straight at Patricio.
Pedro Neto should've given Wolves the lead in the 71st minute. Mendy played a misplaced pass out and the visitors took it forward and it saw Neto one-on-one versus Mendy, but his scooped chip hit the crossbar and went over.
Tuchel saw enough in the 77th minute as Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic came on for Ben Chilwell and Olivier Giroud.
Mateo Kovacic went close in the 82nd minute as Ziyech teed him up on the edge of the box, but he could only strike it just wide of Patricio's goal.
Mason Mount was brought on in the closing stages by Tuchel as Chelsea hunted for a winner. All the possession but nothing to show for it. He replaced Ziyech.
Four minutes from time and Hudson-Odoi went close to breaking the deadlock. He drove at Rayan Ait-Nouri but his deflected effort was tipped away by Patricio.
Mount looked bright when he came on as he dummied Jorginho's ball but his cross was well cleared.
Wolves looked for a winner and they broke as Dendoncker went to pull the trigger, but Hudson-Odoi made a last-ditch tackle.
Havertz had a chance to win it in stoppage time but his free header was deflected over.
But neither side could find a winner and Tuchel had to settle for a point in his opening game as Head Coach.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
5' Giroud almost catches the vicious cross in box
15' Havertz's shot stopped
20' Ziyech's long shot too straight
22' Neves' free kick over the bar
30' Chilwell's shot wide out
39' Rudiger's header stopped by Patricio
40' Dendoncker's header over the bar
46' Havertz goes down in the box but ref says no penalty!
61' CHANCE! Chilwell's shot over the bar
65' Havertz's shot blocked
71' CLOSE! Neto hits the beam
81' CHANCE! Kovacic's long shot inches wide
86' Hudson-Odoi's shot stopped
Line-ups
Chelsea XI: Thiago Silva, Azpilicueta, Giroud, Kovacic, Jorginho, Rudiger, E. Mendy, Ziyech, Chilwell, Havertz, Hudson-Odoi
Subs: Alonso, Zouma, Emerson, Kepa, Werner, Abraham, Mount, Pulisic, Reece James
Wolves XI: Patricio, Boly, Coady, Dendoncker, Semedo, Traore, Neves, Podence, Kilman, Pedro Neto, R. Aït Nouri
Subs: Ruddy, Moutinho, W.José, Saiss, Cutrone, Vitinha, Fábio Silva, Hoever, Otasowie
moonAnthony
1274
new manager, same Chelsea 😂
YellowRedWolf
1181
Kepa now asking he should get the head coach role
Gaaga77
881
New Coach Same Old Chelsea
Jobarcelona
597
People saying different manager same story? It was a goalless draw compared to lampard’s 2-1 loss 🤷🏾♂️
NassibKeicee
529
I feel better now I've seen some positives
JohnWick7
516
Abramovich to Tuchel:- Give me three points and not 70% Possession.
Soð
507
The last time Havertz scored EPL goal: •Lampard was a Chelsea manager •trump was the president •Chelsea were top of the league
Amgnonijunior
481
I really enjoyed the way we played today
WaleedRai
337
thomas tuchel is ronald koeman mason mount is riqui puig
Bensons
253
Gif here. Like me: https://bit.ly/3a4MYLI
Nesaiknruy_Legend
208
I know it's the first game but this isnt that much different from Sarriball. Tuchel messed up by benching Mount, he was the midfielder this season finding passes between the channels and exploiting spaces. Benching him cost the win. When he came on immediately he exploited space between Wolves defence. Very underrated. Also all those corners and we dont gave Kurt Zouma in the side. I hope Tuchel has now learnt his lesson. He dropped the wrong players. We didn't play bad but I know the other players can do even better than this. Reece James, Mason Mount, Abraham etc. were dropped unfairly, regardless of what people think of them these players shown up the most this season in there positions and the stats show it. Anyway the show must go on, hopefully a better line up against Burnley or we could suffer a huge upset. In Thomas Tuchel the tank engine we trust...
D10S_LM10
175
Chelsea completed 4️⃣3️⃣3️⃣ passes in the first half against Wolves 👏 More than Chelsea have managed in the first half of ANY Premier League game since the stat was first counted in 2003-04 👀
Dra_ke
95
Something is wrong really wrong with Tuchel formation coz playing Hudson-Odoi and Pulisic also Chilwell on the wings as wingback is kinda off ...we were possessive but not decisive not clinical because our clinical attackers are just so wide where only the can do is just cross and winning this style will be really difficult ....what I take from today was the midfield KOVACIC played really well also HAVERTZ and MOUNT was great in his short time HUDSON-ODOI was the man of the match but TUCHEL don't play AZPILICUETA and RUDIGER will cost us ..also JORGINHO isn't the great playmaker I think GILMOUR is better, I believe the 433 will make us great