Thomas Tuchel switch turns match for Chelsea as Hakim Ziyech seals win against Malmo
It is the small details that separate the really good coaches from the great ones and Chelsea’s Thomas Tuchel once again demonstrated why he is one of the very best.
Callum Hudson-Odoi and Hakim Ziyech had suffered a frustrating first 45 minutes in Malmo, but rather than do the easy thing and replace one of them, or do nothing at all, Tuchel made a half-time tactical tweak.
Ziyech swapped to the left with Hudson-Odoi moving to the right for the start of the second period and just 11 minutes later the pair had combined to break the deadlock.
The goal was Ziyech’s first since the European Super Cup success at the start of the season and set Chelsea on their way to an important Champions League victory in Group H.
Tuchel celebrated like a plan had come together and he also received the congratulations of Thiago Silva as the majority of the players celebrated with Ziyech and Hudson-Odoi.
Hudson-Odoi had been challenged to grasp the opportunity that injuries to Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner have afforded him, and the winger is certainly now making an impact.
Tuchel started without seven of his first-team regulars, as Reece James, Ben Chilwell and N’Golo Kante were all rested and Mason Mount, Werner, Lukaku and Mateo Kovacic missed out through illness and injury.
Although Chelsea dominated possession, Tuchel’s team were a little disjointed and sloppy in a first half in which they squandered several good opportunities and almost conceded a goal just before the break.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, preferred to Saul Niguez, was the main bright point of the opening 45 minutes in what was his first Champions League start in over six years.
The midfielder, who spent last season on loan at Fulham, drove forwards at every opportunity and Malmo were reduced to trying to foul him every time he beat a challenge.
It was from a brilliant Loftus-Cheek pass in the 29th minute that Kai Havertz failed to score what should have been Chelsea’s opening goal. The German was put clean through on goal, but allowed Malmo goalkeeper Johan Dahlin to keep out his unconvincing chipped effort.
Dahlin also saved well from a Cesar Azpiliqueta shot and twice stopped efforts from Ziyech, who might have had more success had he looked for one of the corners of the net.
Chelsea unquestionably were missing James and Chilwell in both of the wing-back positions, and some of their sloppy finishing was matched by what should have been a costly lapse in concentration right at the end of the first half.
Malmo played a chipped free-kick into the penalty area that found Antonio Colak unmarked, but, with just goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to beat, he steered his volley wide.
Other than that, the hosts, who were backed by a noisy following, had a penalty appeal turned down when Sebastian Nanasi took a pass from Colak and went down as he attempted to check back to shoot.
Loftus-Cheek did brilliantly to beat two challenges shortly after the restart, but he passed straight to Lasse Nielsen, who was able to clear the danger.
There was another warning for the European champions in the 51st minute, when the bearded Jo Inge Berget, who looks like he might serve you a craft beer in a jam jar, charged down the right. He passed to Colak, who won a corner and from the delivery, Soren Rieks shot over the bar.
Dahlin made more saves from Ziyech and Loftus-Cheek, but it was the subtle half-time change made by Tuchel at the break that helped Chelsea take a 56th-minute lead.
It was on the right side that Hudson-Odoi left Malmo left-back Franz Brorsson for dust and found Ziyech arriving unmarked from the left at the far post to score.
The fact Tuchel elected to replace Hudson-Odoi and Ziyech with Ross Barley and Christian Pulisic, returning from injury, suggested the pair could be in line for another start against Burnley on Saturday.
Chelsea’s visiting fans showed their appreciation by chanting Hudson-Odoi’s name as he left the field and the winger also received a well-done slap from Tuchel.
Havertz should have wrapped the game up for Chelsea with 12 minutes remaining, but just like in the first half when he had also been set-up by Loftus-Cheek, he failed to lift the ball high enough to beat Dahlin.
Both of the German’s chances were similar to the one he scored in last season’s Champions League final and he quickly needs to rediscover some of that form if he is to keep his place when Chelsea’s absentees return.
