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Thomas Tuchel insists Ross Barkley can make an impact on Chelsea’s bid to win the Premier League title after the midfielder came in from the cold in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Burnley.
Barkley made his first Premier League start this term as Tuchel tweaked the leaders’ line-up at Stamford Bridge.
Barkley started in a ‘false nine’ role in Chelsea’s three-man attack and delivered arguably the best performance of his troubled three-year spell with the Blues.
Chelsea’s German head coach Thomas Tuchel (R) reacts with Chelsea’s English midfielder Mason Mount at the final whistle during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Burnley at Stamford Bridge in London on November 6, 2021. (Photo by Tolga Akmen / AFP)
Since signing from Everton in 2018, Barkley has found it impossible to recapture the dynamic displays that made him the darling of Goodison Park.
But Tuchel has kept him around this season and in only his second start in all competitions, Barkley finally showed his quality.
Linking with the midfield and driving forward dangerously, while displaying his range of passing, Barkley was Chelsea’s most influential figure against Burnley.
Barkley wasn’t alone in missing a good chance as Chelsea fluffed a host of opportunities to kill off lowly Burnley before Matej Vydra’s 79th-minute equaliser.
Blues boss Tuchel might have second-guessed his decision to take off Barkley, and he was quick to praise the player’s contribution.
“He deserved the chance to start. We changed the position in the front three today, so he could play as a number 10.
“He had a good match. Maybe he had the match on his foot with that chance. If you see him in training he would score that.
– ‘Very serious‘ –
Barkley has made only eight appearances in all competitions this term and his lack of game-time has left his England career also on hold.
If Mount, Lukaku and Werner are available in the coming weeks, there could be less opportunities for Barkley to remind Tuchel of his qualities.
“It depends on himself first of all, if he stays humble and hard working. I’m happy if he is not completely satisfied,” Tuchel said.
“He was very serious from the first moment in pre-season, but there is a lot of competition at Chelsea.
Tuchel was less forthcoming about his touchline spat with Sean Dyche — an incident provoked by Barkley’s collision with Ben Mee.
Tuchel reacted to a comment from Dyche by leaping to his feet and angrily gesticulating at the Burnley manager.
But Tuchel would not be drawn on the row, saying only: “I don’t want to talk about it now. Maybe it was fun for you but I will not talk about it.
“I learned in my career as a coach not to comment on referees and other coaches. It will catch you out. So I will not comment.”
