Thomas Tuchel admitted he was unhappy with Callum Hudson-Odoi’s performance after mercilessly replacing the substitute in Chelsea’s 1-1 draw at Southampton.
While Chelsea were trailing at half-time, Hudson-Odoi replaced the attacking midfielder with Tammy Abraham.
Instead of turning to Olivier Giroud as a direct replacement, Hudson-Odoi is asked.
Less than 30 minutes later – with the score after Mason Mount’s equalizer from the penalty spot – Hudson-Odoi, however, brutally immersed himself, with Hakim Ziyech for the final quarter.
There was no sign of any injury to the English international, who frustratedly kicked a water bottle as he entered the stands.
And Tuchel admitted after the game that he was far from satisfied with Hudson-Odoi’s attitude and that his departure was merely performance-oriented.
He told BT Sport: ‘With Hudson-Odoi, I was not happy with the attitude and energy.
‘We decided to take him down again. We demand a lot and 100 percent. I felt he was not in the right shape and he could not help us.
“It is difficult for the players, but tomorrow it will be forgotten. He has every chance to start against Atletico. ”
He also told beIN Sport: “I was not happy with his body language or his teller. And therefore I had the feeling that he was not ready to give what I wanted from him.”
And to further clarify his decision during his post-match press conference, Tuchel added: “In a match that is difficult to create chances, you have to rely on back pressure to perhaps make mistakes and take an easy chance. For that you need to be completely on and sharp.
“I did not feel it from Callum today. He missed chances, missed, missed easy balls. I did not think he felt the game. Maybe it was unfair, but I did not get the feeling today that I .
“It was a tough decision, but nothing that will last long. Tomorrow it will be forgotten and we will prepare for Atletico.”
(Image: pool via REUTERS)
Asked if he was concerned about the move that could affect Hudson-Odoi’s confidence, the German said: “Everyone should understand that I make decisions to win matches, and there is no problem that he makes mistakes and ‘ have a bad match, but we can not even 10 percent or 5 percent can not energy.
“He knows what I’m demanding from him and if he does not reach that level, it’s a tough decision.
“He has to accept it, swallow. Then no problem.”
Tuchel also admitted that Abraham’s ankle problem was not repeated – after he limped against Newcastle in the middle of the week – and that his retirement at half-time also tends to be a struggle to make his mark.
“It was not because of his injury. It was difficult for him to show his quality. We were not happy with the last 20 meters.
“Tammy could not make his mark on this game, and we changed shape.”
And in a damning critique of his team’s attacking play, Tuchel admitted that he was happy with the way the Blues controlled the game, but that he was not at all happy with the opportunities they left out of the game. do not win.
“My frustration was the last 20 meters. We had so many opportunities, half chances.
“I had the feeling in our own attacks that it was bad choices. Balls over hit, balls under hit. I missed the aggressiveness to finish the game. The last 20 meters were not good enough.”
Subscribe to the Mirror Football Email Address here for the latest news and transfer child.