The winners and losers of the dismissal of Frank Lampard and the appointment of Thomas Tuchel to Chelsea

So, here we go again. After many expected the summer of 2019 to be a catalyst for change at Chelsea, the manager was given a long time to rebuild the playing squad to his tune, in the end Frank Lampard’s tenure lasted only 18 months.

Now, there is a new man at the helm, the former head of PSG and Borussia Dortmund, Thomas Tuchel, who has been just over a month out of work after being fired from the Champions League 1 the Christmas night.

With a talented team battling for current consistency, amid a run of a league win in five games, Tuchel will have to go to the ground as the Blues seem to narrow the current six-point gap between the first four.

This process begins at Wolves ’home on Wednesday night. However, what difference will Tuchel’s first start XI have with Lampard’s latest outfit in the league, a team that had no ideas and confidence in Leicester last week?

Some will lick their lips at a new man in the head, you might think, while others may look anxiously over your shoulder.

It looks like Mason Mount will be the first victim of Tuchel’s reign, with the Englishman leaving tonight in favor of Callum Hudson-Odoi against Wolves.

Sports mail takes a look at which first-team squad members could be the winners and losers of Tuchel’s appointment as manager at Stamford Bridge in an 18-month deal.

WINNERS

Timo Werner

The German international, signed to solve Chelsea’s goal problems last season, has endured a torrid first period of life in England.

Although he scored two goals against Southampton to open his Premier League account on 17 October, things have only gone downhill. Two goals in 14 league games since then, with Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud often preferred ahead as a result.

However, from playing a disadvantaged role on the left, Werner is sure to now have an expanded opportunity as Tuchel’s lone new number one. One thing is for sure: if the arrival of one of the most talented German coaches doesn’t kick off Werner’s Chelsea career, what will he do?

Kai Havertz

Similarly, the former Bayer Leverkusen producer has struggled to exert his influence since his £ 90 million arrival last summer.

In his defense, the factors have worked against him, with a COVID-19 attack and injury problems hampering consistency. The 21-year-old should also be allowed time to acclimatize to a new league and a country.

Still, patience only lasts as long at Stamford Bridge, as demonstrated this week. Tuchel’s arrival could bring Havertz to life at Chelsea, either this season or looking towards the 2021-22 campaign.

Callum Hudson-Odoi

The lack of beginnings of the 20-year-old under Lampard, only three in the league all season, is curious given his raw skill and ability to turn games around.

His introduction against West Brom in September helped trigger a 3-0 comeback, while he was also brilliant as a substitute in Lampard’s last win in the league in charge, against Fulham.

Undoubtedly, with Tuchel wanting to freshen things up amid the Blues ’outdated attack, Hudson-Odoi could be a beneficiary of the Germans’ arrival in west London. And, in fact, it seems to be the case instantly with the young Englishman who will face off directly against the Wolves in a right-back position.

Jorginho

Tuchel was reportedly interested in a loan deal to bring the Italian international to PSG in September and is an admirer of the midfielder’s attributes.

While obviously a move didn’t materialize, Jorginho has only made eight starts in the league so far this season and could be given a better role as the new coach, perhaps instead of Mateo Kovacic or Billy Gilmour.

Tuchel is a master of difficult tasks and will want players to be dedicated to the cause and be prepared to make the courts difficult. Jorginho falls into this category.

Antonio Rudiger

Originally frozen by Lampard earlier this season, the German international has started three of Chelsea’s last four league games as he seeks to close out a place in Joachim Low’s squad for this summer’s European Championships.

Highly appreciated in his homeland, Tuchel’s PSG was one of the interested youngsters at the age of 27 in the summer.

Although Kurt Zouma has gone from giant to lampard, the new manager may want to return to experience in his first weeks in office. Rudiger should have a chance to shine.

LOSERS

Billy Gilmour

The 19-year-old was the big star forward during Lampard’s stay at the club, with his impressive first month of first-team football before the closure reduced by a serious knee injury.

While he has re-entered the fight last month, whether Tuchel will trust as much faith as Lampard has done in Gilmour’s development is another question.

While the incoming boss will be aware of the heartbreak and quality of the Scot in the middle of the field, does he have the stamina and ways to get into a Tuchel similar to the worker starting XI? Reports have already surfaced that Gilmour could go on loan before the end of the month.

Mount Mason

Arguably Chelsea’s best player so far this season, the English international was a turning point under Lampard, often to the point of being unfairly ridiculous on social media.

There is no doubt that Mount would be extremely unlucky to lose his place in the starting XI under the new regime … but it looks like that will be exactly the case within 24 hours after Tuchel walks in the door.

It has been revealed that he will leave the team against the Wolves tonight, despite being one of Chelsea’s star lights this season and is now a regular in his home country.

The fact is that one of Tuchel’s immediate tasks will be to manage to shoot up last summer’s expensive purchases, with Havertz at the top of that list. If an out of position is not played, it is likely that the pair will not be in the same starting XI.

Tammy Abraham

After countless loans, the striker got his big break at the Bridge under Lampard last season.

His return was admirable: 18 goals in all competitions, including 15 in the league. Still, it wasn’t enough for Chelsea. Werner came in and was expected to take Abraham’s place on the team.

It is a recognition of the Englishman who has played in 16 of 19 league games so far and who has finished with an FA Cup hat-trick. But like Mount, Abraham’s chances of regular football could be wasted if, as expected, Tuchel perseveres with Werner at first.

Thiago Silva

It will be fascinating to see what the role of the Brazilian veteran in Tuchel’s squad is, of course the pair have worked together at PSG.

More than that, Silva was Tuchel’s boss. So you would think that the partnership would be strong and that the 35-year-old would be someone to trust.

However, after Tuchel’s dismissal from PSG last month, Silva did an interview in which he described the German’s dismissal as “predictable”. Did Tuchel see it as disrespectful?

Silva was much liked by Lampard and vice versa, as illustrated by the central midfielder who was the first player to react publicly to Lampard’s dismissal as coach. Could he now be out of favor in a Tuchel renovation?

Kurt Zouma

The Frenchman, who had originally signed for the club in 2014, had finally consolidated an starting XI place at the Bridge this season.

Zouma has seemed dominant and assured overall, but similarly to Mount, could the 26-year-old be dropped to shake things up?

Although Fikayo Tomori has left on loan, Andreas Christensen has been waiting in the wings for some action from the first team and with Rudiger likely to regain his central position, Zouma could be the one to give way.