Chelsea vs Burnley. Premier League.
Stamford Bridge.
Report and highlights as Thomas Tuchel records first victory as Chelsea head coach; goals in each half from captain Cesar Azpilicueta and the recalled Marcos Alonso help see off Burnley at Stamford Bridge; Blues move up to seventh in the Premier League
Sunday 31 January 2021 18:42, UK
Thomas Tuchel registered his first win in charge of Chelsea as goals from Cesar Azpilicueta and the recalled Marcos Alonso helped his side see off Burnley 2-0.
Chelsea captain Azpilicueta, playing under his eighth Blues manager, finished off a fine flowing move five minutes before half-time to open the scoring at Stamford Bridge.
Alonso, making his first start since September after being frozen out under the previous boss Frank Lampard, sealed the victory late on with a fine strike (84).
As a result, Chelsea have moved up to seventh in the Premier League, while Burnley slip to 16th in the table below Newcastle on goals scored.
Tuchel's Chelsea reign began with a tepid goalless draw at home to Wolves in midweek when all eyes were on the new man's first-ever line-up, and the German again caused a few raised eyebrows when the team sheet dropped in west London.
Most surprising was the inclusion of Spain left-back Alonso, picked to start ahead of England international Ben Chilwell, while there were also places in his starting XI for Mason Mount, Timo Werner and Tammy Abraham.
Werner's struggles in front of goal continued, though, with the striker misfiring horribly when set up by the impressive Callum Hudson-Odoi just before the half-hour mark, although that frustration was soon forgotten as Chelsea took the lead.
Jorgino began the eye-catching move deep inside his own half, before Mount took over and after driving forward, he in turn picked out Hudson-Odoi on the right side of the area, before the forward slipped in Azpilicueta.
The right-back still had a lot of work to do, though, to beat Nick Pope from an acute angle, but his powerful shot flew past the England goalkeeper, albeit with the help of a slight deflection off Erik Pieters.
That strike appeared to settle the hosts down and it was one-way traffic in the second half - the visitors failed to register a shot on target in the entire 90 game - as Tuchel's team looked for the all-important second goal to end the game, which came eventually and in some style.
Christian Pulisic, brought on at half-time by the man he worked under at Borussia Dortmund, broke clear down the left and crossed for Alonso, who juggled the ball, before finding the net from a tight angle with a spectacular volley.
And it was all smiles at the full-time whistle as Chelsea ended a run of three home matches without a win to get the Tuchel regime up and running.
Thomas Tuchel: "It was a very complete display, both offensively and defensively. We only managed to concede one shot, which was absolutely amazing. At the same time, we never lost patience with the ball, controlled the game, created a lot of chances, put the game high up on the pitch with very good counter pressing.
"So there was a lot of good on the pitch out there and for that, I am very happy we got this well-deserved win.
"If we can find a starting XI that can guarantee us winning 20 in a row, we will not change, but it is very unlikely this will happen. So we will need everybody, but I am only some days in.
"We decided very late on the back three and the two sixes will stay because of the impact we expected from Burnley and they did very well. And we did some changes offensively, just to do them to have some different type of players with different characteristics on the pitch.
"And at the same time, to give everyone the chance to show up in competitions. Right now, every player has a right to start for us because I'm very happy with the quality, intensity and devotion in training and the games so far.
"So it is super-hard selections, or maybe at the same time super easy as I give everybody the chance to show up and maybe that is why there were a little bit more surprises than usual."
Sean Dyche: "Well certainly not a concern when you come to a place like this. That sometimes happens.
"In the first-half up until the goal I was pretty happy.
"We didn't make the most of our opportunities and that's a frustration.
"But it showed the truth of the market we're in, when you come to a team that can spend hundreds of millions of pounds, sometimes things like this can happen."
Hudson-Odoi was not exactly a regular under previous Chelsea manager Frank Lampard, but he has already started both of new man Thomas Tuchel's games in charge at the Bridge.
On Sunday, the England international was the key man, helping to unlock the notoriously stubborn Burnley back line for the hosts' crucial opener, while providing a constant attacking outlet in his role as the hosts' right wing back.
The 20-year-old has now been directly involved in five goals in his last eight starts for the Blues in all competitions, scoring three himself and providing two assists.
And if he continues in that vein of form, then Tuchel is going to find it hard to leave him out going forward.
Chelsea take on London rivals Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday (8pm).
Burnley, meanwhile, host league leaders Manchester City on Wednesday (6pm).
